The Secret Doctrine Volume 3.pdf

Osiris by Isis. [ See Dowson’s Hindu Classical Dict., sub voc., “Pitha-sthânam.”] Pitha
is a Sanskrit word, and is also used to designate the seat of the initiating Lama.
Whether all the above terms are due simply to “coincidences” or otherwise is left to
the decision of our learned Symbologists and Philologists. We state facts - and
nothing more. Many other writers, far (Page 128) more learned and entitled to be heard
than the author has ever claimed to be, have sufficiently demonstrated that Peter
never had anything to do with the foundation of the Latin Church; that his supposed
name Petra, or Kiffa, also the whole story of his Apostleship at Rome, are simply a
play on the term, which meant in every country, in one or another form, the
Hierophant or interpreter of the Mysteries; and that finally, far from dying a martyr at
Rome, where he had probably never been, he died at a good old age at Babylon. In
Sepher Tolaoth Jeshu, a Hebrew manuscript of great antiquity - evidently an original
and very precious document, if one may judge from the care the Jews took to hide it
from the Christians - Simon (Peter) is referred to as “a faithful servant of God,” who
passed his life in austerities and meditation, a Kabalist and a Nazarene who lived at
Babylon “at the top of a tower, composed hymns, preached charity,” and died there.
SECTION XVII
Appollonius of Tyana
(Page 129) IT is said in Isis Unveiled that the greatest teachers of divinity agree that nearly
all ancient books were written symbolically and in a language intelligible only to the Initiated.
The biographical sketch of Apollonius of Tyana affords an example. As every Kabalist knows,
it embraces the whole of the Hermetic Philosophy, being a counterpart in many respects of
the traditions left us of King Solomon. It reads like a fairy story, but, as in the case of the
latter, sometimes facts and historical events are presented to the world under the colours of
fiction. The journey to India represents in its every stage, though of course allegorically, the
trials of a Neophyte, giving at the same time a geographical and topographical idea of a
certain country as it is even now, if one knows where to look for it. The long discourses of
Apollonius with the Brâhmans, their sage advice, and the dialogues with the Corinthian
Menippus would, if interpreted, give the Esoteric Catechism. His visit to the empire of the
wise men, his interview with their king Hiarchas, the oracle of Amphiaraus, explain
symbolically many of the secret dogmas of Hermes - in the generic sense of the name - and
of Occultism. Wonderful is this to relate, and were not the statement supported by numerous
calculations already made, and the secret already half revealed, the writer would never have
dared to say it. The travels of the great Magus are correctly, though allegorically described -
that is to say, all that is related to Damis had actually taken place - but the narrative is based
upon the Zodiacal signs. As transliterated by Damis under the guidance of Appollonius and
translated by Philostratus, it is a marvel indeed. At the conclusion of what may now be
related of the wonderful Adept of Tyana our meaning will become clearer. Suffice it to say for
the present that the dialogues spoken of would disclose, if correctly understood, some of the
most important secrets of Nature. Eliphas Levi points out the great (Page 130) resemblance
which exists between King Hiarchus and the fabulous Hiram, from whom Solomon procured
the cedars of Lebanon and the gold of Ophir. But he keeps silent as to another resemblance
of which, as a learned Kabalist, he could not be ignorant. Moreover, according to his
invariable custom, he mystifies the reader more than he teaches him, divulging nothing and
leading him off the right track.
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