CONTENTS

Editorial Note XIII Preface 1

1 The Initiatic & Mystical Paths 7 2 Magic & Mysticism 13 3 Various Errors Concerning Initiation 17 4 Conditions for Initiation 22 5 Initiatic Regularity 28 6 Synthesis & Syncretism 37 7 Against Mixing Traditional Forms 43 8 Initiatic Transmission 48 9 Tradition & Transmission 56 10 Initiatic Centers 60 11 Initiatic Organizations & Religious Sects 67 12 Initiatic Organizations & Secret Societies 72 13 The Initiatic Secret 84 14 Initiatic Qualifications 91 15 Initiatic Rites 104 16 Rite & Symbol 110 17 Myths, Mysteries, & Symbols 115 18 Symbolism & Philosophy 124 19 Rites & Ceremonies 130 20 Ceremonial Magic 135 21 Psychic 'Powers' 141

22 The Rejection of 'Powers' 147 23 Sacraments & Initiatic Rites 152 24 Prayer & Incantation 159 25 Initiatic Trials 166 26 Initiatic Death 172 27 Profane & Initiatic Names 176 28 The Symbolism of the Theater 182 29 'Operative' & 'Speculative' 187 30 Effective & Virtual Initiation 193 31 Initiatic Teaching 197 32 The Limits of the Mental 205 33 Initiatic Knowledge & Profane 'Culture' 211 34 Academic Mentality & Pseudo-Initiation 216 35 Initiation & 'Passivity' 222 36 Initiation & 'Service' 228 37 The Gift of Tongues 232 38 Rose-Cross & Rosicrucians 237 39 Greater & Lesser Mysteries 244 40 Sacerdotal & Royal Initiation 250 41 Some Reflections on Hermeticism 255 42 Transmutation & Transformation 263 43 The Notion of an Elite 269 44 The Initiatic Hierarchy 274 45 Traditional Infallibility 279 46 Two Initiatic Devices 286 47 Verbum, Lux, & Vita 291 48 The Birth of the Avatāra 297

Index 301