Preamble for Letter to s5s2

Dear Fellow Students,

Our present Commentary for Semester Five, Section Two, takes us far into the future. Naturally, we can only approach speculatively, but important hints are given which throw light upon the direction in which present planetary processes are moving. The main emphasis is upon clarifying the nature of the process of transmutation.

I will list a few of the topics to be covered, but will not go into much detail in this preamble, as the USR/SRI Conference is nearly upon us, and there are naturally time constraints.

1. Manas in the future rounds
2. The quest for the “universal solvent”—through alchemy.
3. The nature of the “Philosopher’s Stone”.
4. Transmutation from the perspective of the religionist.
5. The definition of transmutation as: “Transmutation is the passage across from one state of being to another through the agency of fire.”
6. Ancient phrases from the Old Commentary. These phrases describe the essence of the alchemical process but are blinded to prevent premature apprehension of their full meaning.
7. Lesser and more advanced transmutative processes.
8. Transmutation considered in relation to atoms of all kinds.
9. Emphasis upon the central life of the atom.
10. Atoms and electrons in the transmutative process.
11. Radiation understood in terms of transmutation: “Radiation is transmutation in process of accomplishment”.
12. Transmutation as the “liberation of essence” in search of a new center.
13. The ubiquity of the transmutation process.
14. The dispersal of electrons in the transmutation process
15. All atoms considered as both atoms and electrons.
16. External and internal phases in the transmutation process.
17. The involvement of the deva kingdom in the transmutation process.
18. The role of man in assisting in various categories of transmutation. The higher the man, the higher the transmutative process in which he can assist.
19. The necessity for the development of brotherhood if man is to become a successful agent in the transmutation process as it applies to the lower kingdoms.
20. Requirements for those who would be engaged in assisting the transmutation of the lower kingdoms.
21. The refusal (at this time) to give out the transmutative formulas.
22. How the recovery of old knowledge regarding transmutation occurs.
23. The danger of entering prematurely transmutative processes; man must at least become the master of his own sheaths.
24. The transmutator as magician.
25. Technical knowledge required by the transmutating magician.
26. How the black magician approaches transmutation.
27. Contrasts between how the white and black magicians work at the transmutation process.
28. The conscious manipulation of the fires.
29. The relation of the three departments of Hierarchy to the process of transmutation.
30. Three stages in the transmutative process: the fiery stage, the solvent stage, the volatile stage.
31. More selections from the Old Commentary clarifying the nature of transmutation.
32. The Manu, the Bodhisattva and the Mahachohan in relation to the three phases of the transmutative process.
33. The seven rays in relation to the three phases of transmutation.
34. The Hierarchy as a group of Alchemists.
35. Transmutations undertaken by Masters and Chohans, and those still more advanced—Buddhas.
36. The presence of hierarchical efforts in all schemes on all globes.
37. The status of those who would engage in various types of transmutation and the kingdoms they can affect.
38. The art of transmutation lost because of disastrous developments in Atlantean days.
39. A prophecy concerning the reduction of scientific formulas to sound.
40. The necessity for men to transmute their own vehicles before they can be trusted with the general secrets of the art of transmutation as it applies to other groups.
41. Alchemical work of the second, third and fourth orders, with the nature of alchemical work of the first order implied.
42. Five postulates concerning transmutation. These relate to the approaches of white and black magicians.