This section is from the book "The Sacred Book Of Death", by Lauron William De Laurence. Also available from Amazon: The Sacred Book of Death - Hindu Spiritism Soul Transition and Soul Reincarnation.
Sacred Magic teaches him the true nature of his soul and that his earthly existence is-merely an experience in his Eternal Life and career. The Occult Spirit Powers of the soul which are potentially contained in every man, but understood and developed by few, are in a sense strange and unknown to the Materialistic Scientists of the Western countries and who appoints himself the guardian and officer of modern civilization. The learning of these guardians is far from the teachings of true Wisdom. Their intellect seeking the small materialistic powers around them cannot perceive the Occult and Astral Powers above them, nor realize their existence. Yet, Ancient Wisdom is as old as the mountains of India and has been known and taught by all prophets and by every great philosopher that has ever lived and inhabited the earth. The fundamental and cardinal principle as found in ancient Hindu Sanscrit and in the Scriptures of the Holy Book form the principle and essence of the power that Christ taught and revealed unto his Disciples. In ancient times they were revealed unto those who were found worthy of being initiated into the Temples of Ancient and Mystic India. The disclosure of Sacred Magic in these times as in the present to the vulgar was forbidden.
These teachings are not to be confounded with Diabolical Art; for the Arts that are taught by the western imposter are like the flickering light of the candle in the face of the Holy Sun. True Magic is only possessed by those who have developed Spirit Power. This has been verified by every true and practical Occult Student who has power of intellect and firmness, so as to enable him to learn and understand these great mysteries which are hidden and concealed from the unworthy. The above teachings do not merely point out to him the theories of true knowledge but render him wise and strong in Occult forces. The true student which studies these teachings and Magical Rites by nature, becomes a part of this light that serves to illuminate and drive out the worms from the deep dark caverns of the Materialist's mind and soul. What the Hindu Adept and Master teaches has been verified and amplified by all of the immortal minds of the past and the Western student has names to look up to which are famous and which are engraved upon the monumental steps of the stairway of the past.
As written above, this Art in the past as in the future will, when once unfolded, teach the secrets to those who will become purified and faithful in theirsouls and, as man's Occult Powers become illuminated, the darkness around him (Materialism) will disappear and in its place will come the true light of Wisdom and knowledge; for once man's soul has been invested with Occult Powers it becomes free in its action and movements and he is no longer bound by the cruel bands and cords of Materialism for the soul then becomes powerful and can and will instruct itself while at the same time it will be assisted, guided and instructed by Astral Spirits. When this grand state of Occult Powers becomes developed it becomes its guide. The soul is then no longer subject to the conditions of time, or materialistic laws. Its existence is eternal and for a soul to desire a thing is already to possess it. Man's ability to advance in these powers will be in proportion to his desires. Desire will raise the curtain and will let Spiritual light penetrate into his soul that it may be able to see and realize things around him in the Spirit world, the same as if they were Material and External objects. Man's soul, once it has developed Spirit Power, becomes one with the spirit.
Man is then able to communicate and converse mentally with mankind and with the spirits of the Astral Plane same as if they were living in the physical body. Man is also able to perform great and mysterious things, for there is a certain kind of Spirit and Occult Magic which has its existence in the Astral World. .
These forces and powers are placed within and not without the soul of man and he has within himself the power of entering in communication with these forces by the law and principle of realization. However, it is a fact that these Invisible Forces (Evil Spirits) can control a man and break him down with perfect ease, unless he understands the Magical Teachings and how to overcome and dispel their power. He is then able to dominate- instead of being dominated and he can control them so that they will obey him and understand certain signs.
A man who is not properly developed should understand and always bear in mind that in trying to demonstrate and work these things for himself, that he is working with a powerful and unseen force and unless he has the true teachings his efforts will be a curse unto him and he would far better be dead than to try these things for the gratification of his own personal curiosity. Again he will understand this great power from out of his soul, for the curse that hangs around the neck of the Western man is a deficiency of knowledge of himself, because when a man does not know himself he does not know and understand the things of the Occult and Invisible world; for how could he, when he himself is a part of this world and if he has no knowledge of himself how could he understand the Spirit World, because man must develop the Spirit Power that lies within himself and it is then and only then that he begins to get the knowledge and realization of the power and forces of the Invisible world.
 
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