Well, I'm certainly happy to see all here today, and you look very well-contented and everything, we hope we'll have here a nice day.
This morning we have a subject that I think is of more or less vital importance in these times. But we have to begin by going back to one of the earliest concepts that we have in the world of science — and that is the transmutation of metals.
In these days when nearly everyone is looking for some type of spiritual guidance, the religious situation seems to suggest a certain amount of thoughtfulness. As you realize, religion is finely a very personal matter, and while religions as groups have vast followings, each member of such groups is an individual. And it is impossible to assume that the individual working from within himself and from his own patterns of experience is going to interpret a faith in exactly the same way as his neighbor.
We have an interesting subject this morning that comes to our attention frequently. Nearly every male brings a request for an introduction to a reputable religious teacher. People want to know where to go, who to find, what to join and what not to join - these letters come in constantly and also for messages and personal requests. As you probably realize, our organization [Philosophical Research Society] does not carry on that aspect of the situation: we do not endorse and we do not support any particular individuals or groups, and the support for this point - I think we all need to understand rather carefully - in our search for realities we have to depend upon some rules, some patterns of plans, purposes, requirements - and fortunately there are such rules and they are the same in all parts of the world: the teachings of [...], the adepts of Europe - the alchemists, the gnostics - all of these different groups. The esoteric sections in all the cases are the same in principle, and very largely the same in practices, for the simple reason of [...] the sense in medicine: wherever you are, if you have a certain ailment, you have to take the remedy that is indicated. And anyone seeking truth must follow the Path, must follow the ancient, eternal, unchangeable way, because it has to do largely and in fact completely with the individual himself.
