The Rosicrucian cosmo-conception: or, Mystic Christianity; an elementary treatise upon man's past evolution, present constitution and future development

by Max Heindel

This book gives a complete outline of the Western Wisdom Teaching as far as it may be made public at the present time. It contains a comprehensive outline of the evolutionary processes of man and the universe, correlating science with religion. Max Heindel, the author, received this Teaching personally from the Rosicrucian Brotherhood. It is their latest communication.

Part I is a treatise on the Visible and the Invisible Worlds, Man and the Method of Evolution, Rebirth and the Law of Cause and Effect.

Part II takes up the scheme of Evolution in general and the Evolution of the Solar System and the Earth in particular.

Part III treats of Christ and His Mission, Future Development of Man and Initiation, Esoteric Training and a Safe Method of Acquiring Firsthand Knowledge.

Genres: Occult, Religion, Philosophy, Spirituality, Personal Development, Nonfiction, Christian

602 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

1865-1919

Reviews

[AirWind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book (paperback version) several times even before finishing HP Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine (SD). Obviously, Max Heindel is the better writer but it's a relief that his ideas remained loyal to that of the SD; as a matter of fact it made my reading of the SD easier. As what other writers said, Heindel was in fact a student of Rudolf Steiner, who was a also student of HPB. But Heindel claimed he got this knowledge from the inner Rosicrucian brotherhood. For me, it doesn't really matter so long as the teaching was not distorted in the process for no one person or group has monopoly over Truth. Even Blavatsky herself never claimed that the SD was her idea. She just compiled and written down the ageless wisdom or gnosis transmitted down the ages, for use of the modern world.

Very evident in the Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception (RCC) is the difference in writing approach from the SD. Aside from being well organized and readable, Heindel wrote authoritatively and speaking as if he was observing the events as they happened before his eyes, ie. the evolution of the planets and planes of nature. He claimed, in fact, that it was a product of clairvoyant research with the aid of the invisible Elder brothers of the Rosicrucian order. Whether valid or not, it was efficient as he was able to condense the 2 volumes of SD- both the Cosmogenesis and Anthropogenesis into a total of 10 chapters! But the other chapters delved into the occult constitution of man, occult analysis of the Bible, and tips for hastening one's (soul) evolution, for a total of 19 chapters in all. HPB's approach, which made it very lengthy, was to compare every postulate or assumption she made to existing world scriptures, myths or literatures during her time to validate her point.

I particularly love his chapters on the scheme of evolution,and the path of evolution. The charts were amazing and easy to understand. The chapter on the earth evolution outlining the various root races were interesting read. He added allegories in world myths on the rise and fall of these civilizations. It's more of like the star wars series, really! Whether true or not, we can never validate it because no historical documentation can be gathered prior to the emergence of the Aryan race. Only in the realm of world myths and legends can it be discovered. (You can also read my thoughts on the SD about the controversy surrounding the Aryan race or the Teutonic-Anglo-Saxon and other root races: my thoughts on The Secret Doctrine ).

It is just funny that some new agey people these days take so much pride in being "reincarnates" of Atlanteans or even Lemurians. In fact, the 4th root race comprising of the Atlanteans were very much backward than our present one (they were so emotionally focused that they got so drunk with power and would want to destroy each other...but the great flood got them first!); thus the reason why humanity as a whole moved forward to incarnate into the present 5th. root race. While as published in many books, the Atlanteans had superior technology than what we have at present, their so called technological "advancement" were only gifted to them, by super-humans coming from other evolutions. Atlanteans didn't have the capacity to think as their mental substances were not yet fully active at that time. Their highest attainment was the use of the astral or emotional nature.

The present 5th root race, while not yet comparable with their technology, has the capacity to use their minds and brains to come up with original inventions and technologies. Our best inventors and luminaries in science used their minds to come up with their original ideas; Atlanteans didn't, except for the gifts. And many of their technologies were said to be only stolen from the super-humans that visited the planet.

Those who would want to read from the original source, HPB' Secret Doctrine may want to try:

The Secret Doctrine, Vol 1 and 2 by Helena Blavatsky

If you are new into esoteric philosophy or occultism and would want something 'lighter' to start with, try:

Cosmos In Man by Torkom Saraydarian

[Steven Lindenau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on a mission to find out the truth about this world we live in. How I phrased it on my agenda is 'I don't care what the truth looks like, I just want to know what is the truth. I searched for the last 12 years, reading numerous material, and have come up with the conclusion, that the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception is the primer that everyone should understand.

[Seraphim Veluvian · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Космогонията" е едно от най - важните четива в областта на мистицизма и християнската езотерика. Хайндл е представител на американското розенкройцерско общество. Трудът му базира най - важните и натрупани знания от манихейските, богомилските и катарски учения, помирявайки най - модерните схващания за трансцеденталното и мистичното, които се припокриват с идеите на Рудолф Щайнер и Беинса Дуно. Търсенето на тази книга не беше никак лесно на българския пазар, но когато това се случи, вече бях запознат достатъчно с антропософията на Щайнер, поради което Хайндл не ми предостави някаква нова информация. Удоволствието от четенето беше гарантирано, защото Хайндл преодолява стилът на Щайнер, който колкото и да е вълнуващ, толкова и отнася читателя и окултния ученик.

Сама по себе си, космогонията е една от най - важните, а и интересни области на метафизиката. Тя е и възможно най - точната, последователна, непротиворечива и фундаментална дисциплина, защото всяка материя може да бъде обяснена с нея, вкл. генезиса на душата, кармичността и т.н. Книгата е ценна и с приложенията й като таблици, цифрограми и диаграми, които значително улесняват търсещия. "Космогонията" е един от трите основни стълба на Окултната наука, редом с "Кибалиона" и "Кабалата".

Хайндл бележи и началото на съвременото розенкройцерство, а неговият принос спомага за задълбочената работа на негови наследници в европейските среди като Ян Ван Райкенборг и Катароза де Петри. Трудът е абсолютно задължителен за всеки изследовател, вкл. и за напредналите. Като настолно четиво и справочник в окултните науки винаги подтиква да се завърна към нея, когато трябва отново да се провери някоя специфична информация в дадена област.

[Jean de Galzain]

Max Heindel - Cosmo Conception
This is another "Book of the Mysteries" whose Spirit yields most of the power of its teachings in the words that are hidden between the words. The written words are very logical and far reaching. They open doors to the invisible worlds that the mind would not suspect, yet the real message is ultimately addressing the heart through the golden threads there hidden. "The Rosicrucians do not regard an intellectual understanding of God and the Universe as an end in itself; far from it! The greater the intellect, the greater the danger of its misuse. Therefore this scientific, logical and exhaustive teaching is given in order that Man may believe in his heart that wich his head has sanctioned and start to live the religious life" that is at the same time Artistic and Scientific. For throughout the civilizations, Art, Science and Religion have been united as the three main avenues of human education. The three have been separated during the present Piscean Age to desolve the limitations caused by the previous Jehovistic dispensation of Law and Punishment, so it could be updated through the Law of Love brought to mankind by the Cosmic Christ, some 2000 years ago. They are to be reunited in a new form of wisdom as we approach the Aquarian Age, by precession of the equinoxes, some 489 years ahead and act as an internal liberating force against the destructive power of sensuality, greed, selfishness, and materialism that we must learn to transmute into pure Love, benevolence, altruism and spiritual aspirations to uplift the World and encourage all Good. This 100 year old book is as relevant today as upon te day it was written as it speaks of the universal values of the Ageless Wisdom...

[Pythagorean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange book that had a profound impact on my life.

[Asderan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found an old copy in an antique mall for a couple bucks, which made me pretty happy. I'm not a book collector, but I will always buy an old esoteric book when I find one.

One of many interesting books from this time period, and one of the more extensive and accessible. One of my favorites of the time. Has a lot in common with Steiner, more so than the AMORC branch of Rosicrucians that became more prominent than Heindel's group in the US.

The work of Heindel is, in my opinion more deeply esoteric and more rooted in clear, enlightened experience than any of the other groups using the name "Rosicrucian" in the 20th century.

I don't buy too deeply into the exact details of the metaphysical cosmo-conception presented here (may be true, may not, I am not enlightened enough myself to know), but I completely support the wisdom seeking, deep and responsible character building ethos that Heindel promotes.

[Marco A.]

One needs to read it with the mind of 'a little child', unfettered by preconceived opinions and not imbued with an overwhelming sense of superior knowledge: being not an infallible exposition nor the last word on the subject, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (1st ed. 1909) is also not dogmatic, neither does it appeal to any other authority than the reason of the student. The Rosicrucian Brotherhood has the most far-reaching, the most logical conception of the World-Mystery of which the writer has gained any knowledge during the many years he has devoted exclusively to the study of this subject.

Online reading at TRF, http://www.rosicrucian.com/rcc/rcceng...
Online 1911 edition (various formats) at the IA, http://archive.org/details/rosicrucia...

[Juanjo Galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Concepto Rosacruz del Cosmos": Un Viaje por las Estrellas del Conocimiento Esotérico

En "Concepto Rosacruz del Cosmos" de Max Heindel, somos llevados a una expedición por las profundidades de la filosofía Rosacruz, una de las tradiciones esotéricas más antiguas y enigmáticas del mundo. Esta obra no es simplemente un libro, es una llave maestra que abre puertas a dimensiones de sabiduría y comprensión que pocas veces se encuentran en el ámbito literario.

Desde sus primeras páginas, Heindel nos presenta con una claridad sorprendente los conceptos fundamentales de la enseñanza Rosacruz. Profundiza en temas como la evolución del ser humano y el universo, los mundos superiores e inferiores, la reencarnación, el karma y los misterios de la vida y la muerte. Pero más allá de la teoría, lo que destaca es cómo estos conceptos se entrelazan y cobran vida, invitando al lector a una experiencia introspectiva y transformadora.

La prosa de Heindel es a la vez erudita y accesible. Logra equilibrar la profundidad de los conceptos con una presentación clara y amigable. Este balance hace que el libro sea apto tanto para aquellos que se aproximan por primera vez al pensamiento Rosacruz como para los ya iniciados en la senda.

Lo que personalmente encontré fascinante es cómo Heindel conecta la sabiduría Rosacruz con la ciencia, la religión y la filosofía, creando un mosaico de ideas que se refuerzan mutuamente. Esta visión holística nos muestra que, más allá de las diferencias superficiales, existe un núcleo de verdad que subyace a todas las tradiciones.

Si bien es cierto que el pensamiento esotérico puede parecer ajeno o incluso incomprensible para algunos, "Concepto Rosacruz del Cosmos" logra, con maestría, tender puentes hacia el lector, acercándolo a un mundo lleno de misterio y maravilla. Es una obra que invita a la reflexión profunda, al autoconocimiento y, en última instancia, a la expansión de la conciencia.

Recomiendo encarecidamente este libro a quienes buscan respuestas a las preguntas trascendentales de la vida, a quienes desean profundizar en el conocimiento esotérico y, en especial, a aquellos que sienten el llamado interno de embarcarse en un viaje de autodescubrimiento y crecimiento espiritual. "Concepto Rosacruz del Cosmos" es, sin lugar a dudas, una joya literaria que ilumina y enriquece el espíritu.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN EXPLANATION OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER

Max Heindel (born Carl Louis von Grasshoff, 1865-1919) was a Danish-American Christian occultist, astrologer, and mystic.

He wrote in the introductory section of this 1909 book, “it is urged that the reader withhold all expressions of either praise or blame until study of the work has reasonably satisfied him of its merit or demerit. The Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception is not dogmatic, neither does it appeal to any other authority than the reason of the student. It is not controversial, but is sent forth in the hope that it may help to clear some of the difficulties which have beset the minds of students of the deeper philosophies in the past.” (Pg. 7)

He continues, “The Rosicrucian Brotherhood has the most far-reaching, the most logical conception of the World-Mystery of which the writer has gained any knowledge during the many years he has devoted exclusively to the study of this subject… Yet he is convinced that the Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception is far from being the last word on the subject; that as we advance greater vistas of truth will open to us and make clear many things which we now ‘see through a glass, darkly.’ At the same time he firmly believes that all other philosophies of the future will follow the same main lines, for they appear to be absolutely true… the writer desires to strongly emphasize that it is not to be understood as a ‘faith once for all delivered’ to the Rosicrucian by the founder of the Order or by any other individual. It is emphatically stated that this work embodies only the writer’s understanding of the Rosicrucian teachings concerning the World-Mystery…” (Pg. 8)

He says in the Introduction, “The Western world is undoubtedly the vanguard of the human race, and, for reasons given in the following pages, it is held by the Rosicrucians that neither Judaism nor ‘popular Christianity,’ but true Esoteric Christianity is to be its world-religion.” (Pg. 17)

Of life after death, he states, “all desires in the Desire World die for want of opportunity to gratify them. When the drunkard has been purged, he is ready, so far as this habit is concerned, to leave this state of ‘purgatory’ and ascend into the heaven world. Thus we see that it is not an avenging Deity that makes purgatory or hell for us, but our own individua evil habits and acts.” (Pg. 106)

He asserts, “The law of Consequence also works in harmony with the stars, so that a man is born at the time when the positions of the bodies in the solar system will give the conditions necessary to his experience and advancement in the school of life. That is why Astrology is an absolutely true science, though even the best astrologer may misinterpret it, because, like all other human beings, he is fallible.” (Pg. 161)

He says, “Progression with our present wave of evolution is what is meant when ‘salvation’ is spoken of in the Christian religion, and it is something to be earnestly sought, for though the ‘eternal damnation’ of these who are not ‘saved’ does not mean destruction of endless torture, it is nevertheless a very serious matter to be held in a state of inertia for inconceivable milliards of years, before a new evolution shall have progressed to such a stage that those who fail here can have an opportunity to proceed.” (Pg. 229-231)

He states, “Contrary to the generally accepted idea, the Ego is bisexual. Were the Ego sexless, the body would necessarily be sexless also, for the body is but the external symbol of the indwelling spirit. The sex of the Ego does not, of course, express itself as such in the inner worlds. It manifests there as two distinct qualities---Will and Imagination. The Will is the male power and is allied to the Sun forces; Imagination is the female power and is always linked to the Moon forces. This accounts for imaginative trend of woman and for the special power which the Moon exercises over the female organism.” (Pg. 267)

He observes, “It has been said by white men against the white race, that wherever it goes the other races die out. The whites have been guilty of fearful oppression against those other races, having in many cases massacred multitudes of the defenseless and unsuspecting natives---as witness the conduct of the Spaniards towards the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, to specify but one of many instances.” (Pg. 290)

He explains, “The purpose of the Religion of the Holy Spirit, the Race religions, were for the uplifting of the human race through a feeling of kinship limited to a group---family, tribe or nation. The purpose of the Religion of the Son, Christ, is to further uplift mankind by forming it into a Universal Brotherhood of separate individuals. The ideal of the Religion of the Father will be the elimination of all separateness, merging all into One, so that there will be no ‘I’ nor ‘Thou,’ but all will be One IN REALITY. This will not come to pass while we are still inhabitants of the physical Earth, but in a future state…” (Pg. 436)

He points out, “The Rosicrucian Order was started particularly for those whose high degree of intellectual development caused them to repudiate the heart. Intellect imperiously demands a logical explanation of everything---the world mystery, the questions of life and death. The reasons for and the modus operandi of existence were not explained by the priestly injunction ‘not to seek to know the mysteries of God.’” (Pg. 439)

He recounts, “In the thirteenth century a high spiritual teacher, having the symbolical name Christian Rosenkreuz… appeared in Europe to commence that work. He founded the mysterious Order of Rosicrucians with the object of throwing occult light upon the misunderstood Christian Religion and to explain the mystery of Life and Being from the scientific standpoint in harmony with Religion. Many centuries have rolled by since the birth, as Christian Rosenkreuz, the Founder of the Rosicrucian Mystery School, and by many his existence is even regarded as a myth. But his birth as Christian Rosenkreuz marked the beginning of a new epoch in spiritual life of the Western World.” (Pg. 518)

He notes, “The Order of Rosicrucians is not merely a secret society; it is one of the Mystery Schools, and the Brothers are Hierophants of the lesser Mysteries, Custodians of the Sacred Teachings and a spiritual Power more potent in the life of the Western World than any of the visible Governments, though they may not interfere with humanity so as to deprive them of their free will.” (Pg. 520)

This book will be of keen interest to those studying Rosicrucianism.

[Aubrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gets a little to out into the weeds to be really worth while. It may have some helpful insights into Christian faith but I fear that it strays a little too far from orthodox Christianity to be a helpful guide for those seeking to deepen their faith. I would suggest John of the Cross if "mystic Christianity" has caught your eye. You will find much deeper, more Christ centered spiritual lessons there.

[Onur · Rating 3 out of 5]

It s very long book up to 650 pages. Half of the book is cited from the book of Helena Blavatsky called secret doctrines and converted them in a form of mystic Christianity. After reading it, you might ask yourself "what am i gonna do with all these information " then you may receive an answer like 'nothing, but it could be more useful than watching Netflix'

[Tamara Mayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was about 28 years old, and I still have the book. Not because I thought it was especially mind-blowing, but because there are some specific parts of it that I want to revisit with a fresh, now-discerning eye.

[Patsy S. Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thoughts

I understood some of teachings. I learned some new ones for me . This is not a book for beginners it is too deep I believe. If you are an old soul you will get into the teaching easier. I enjoyed the book very much.

[Wendy 'windmill' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

A journey through the passages of time & space! Truly fascinating! A long book, with lots of detail, & I couldn't put it down! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the second book of Max's. & Would love to join the Rosicrucian Order. Anyone know if it's still going?

[Nicholas Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to dig deeper, behind the curtain of religion then this is a great start, though some concepts might seem... Fanatical... It's the beginning for what some may call, truth seeking.

[Thiago Bressane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melhor livro de todos os tempos.

[Davy Bennett]

Pretty book, 1925. Olive green, red engravings.
Donating.
I think these type of things are frowned upon in the Bible.

[HillbillyMystic · Rating 5 out of 5]

On occasion some of us get a nagging feeling in our souls that we are living an inauthentic life. Even rarer still, some of us with said soul nag are presented with a way out by Sophia, the goddess of knowledge. I reckon most slam that door shut because first one finds out this will involve a tremendous amount of reading to catch up. Then after reading the first bundle of tomes one finds there is a tremendous amount of shadow or soul work to do. While Libros means both Freedom and Book in Latin, I fear most today could not put down their phones long enough to actually read, let alone do any archetypal shadow work. As for me and my house, we read and do shadow work every single day, only regretting we did not learn all of this 30 years ago. I would have stayed off drugs and started juicing a long time ago. Ya heard me?

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Introduction to the Lesser Mysteries of the Rosicrucian Fellowship

This book explains in exquisite detail the beginning of Wisdom as taught by the Rosicrucian Fellowship of Oceanside, California, USA. It is full of diagrams and explanations which seek to reveal some of the basic esoteric and occult teachings. I highly recommend it to any Christian seeker of the Mysteries.

[Ritana]

Still reading it