“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
– Revelations 2:17
The Alchemical Foundation
The Great Work of the alchemist is to create the philosopher’s stone – a development achieved through mental tranquility and insight into the subjective nature of being. Through analysis of subjective reality, the alchemist discovers karma and other forces that condition a reality beneath the apparent reality of normal existence.
The fundamental task is overcoming the mind’s tendency toward dualism. Through focusing on the raw material of self from a paradigm of purification, the ‘dross’ of our being undergoes gradual transformation. This transformation occurs simultaneously from two opposite directions.
The Dual Path of Transformation
Reduction of Unwholesomeness
The alchemist develops increasing awareness of their contribution to the ‘misery of the world.’ Wisdom overcomes instinctive greed, ill-will, and delusion, resulting in a reduction of harmful (unwholesome) karma and an increasingly tranquil state of mind.
Growth of Wholesomeness
Wholesome karmic choices naturally predominate, yet the alchemist’s focus remains on knowledge rather than spiritual progression. This manifests as a natural disinterest towards material gains and prestige through wholesome deeds. The alchemist learns to almost reject beneficial results, recognizing them as potential distractions from the path.
The Nature of Karmic Transformation
These two polarities serve to purify the stone of duality rather than merely eliminating ‘badness.’ At this stage, duality presents a greater challenge than selflessness, and one can easily fall back into conditioned existence by taking ‘saintly’ qualities too seriously. The key lies in focusing on the unwholesome while allowing the wholesome to manifest naturally, without attachment to results.
Understanding Karmic Intent
The intensity of karma, whether wholesome or unwholesome, is amplified by intent. Consider these manifestations:
Earthly Realm
Simple generosity as a quality of being, performed without calculation, results in angelic rebirth associated with the earthly realm.
Heavenly Realm
Generosity performed specifically for heavenly rebirth results in lesser heavenly realms. The karma generated from any deed intensifies with intent – just as accidental harm carries less weight than deliberate harm, so too does intentional kindness generate stronger positive karma than unconscious good deeds.
The White Stone’s Properties
For the alchemist, ‘goodness’ emerges not as a pursued goal but as the logical operation of increased awareness and insight. The alchemist naturally seeks resolution, peace, and harmony without attachment to outcomes.
The white stone (Albedo) possesses the mythical property of transmuting base metals into silver. This metaphorically represents the alchemist’s ability to transform unwholesome karma into wholesome karma. Such an individual, having realized the first five fetters, is no longer ‘bound’ to material existence. They develop genuine confidence as their understanding of karma inevitably brings progress.
The Alchemical Symbolism
The moon in alchemy represents reality’s natural cycling, symbolized by silver – bright yet colorless and reflective. The white stone (Albedo) represents a state where:
- Spontaneous anger, greed, or delusion becomes rare
- Expert understanding of karma creates healing effects
- Unwholesome karma transmutes into wholesome karma
- The natural health of the mind is restored to its luminous, pure, and reflective state
The alchemist thus becomes capable of purifying the base metals (consciousness) of others, transforming them into silver – the naturally calm and restorative state of being.
Remember: these transformative abilities are side effects of the Great Work. The alchemist must maintain focus on the primary goal of spiritual understanding rather than becoming attached to these capabilities.
Further Reading
- Books:
- “The Hermetic Tradition” by Julius Evola
- “Psychology and Alchemy” by Carl Jung
- “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
- Online Resources:
- Wikipedia: Alchemy
- Wikipedia: Philosopher’s stone
- Wikipedia: Western esotericism
- Video Content:
- Carl Jung and Alchemy
- Spiritual Alchemy and the Great Work (by Manly P. Hall) Lecture
The article above is based on a chapter from “Albedo,” the second volume in Dr. Simon Robinson’s transformative series “A Course in Modern Alchemy.” This comprehensive work delves deep into the mystical traditions of spiritual alchemy while making these ancient teachings accessible to modern seekers.
In Albedo, Dr. Robinson masterfully weaves together Buddhist philosophy, Western esoteric traditions, and practical spiritual guidance. The book explores fascinating concepts like the nature of consciousness, karmic transformation, and the various realms of existence – from the depths of metaphysical hells to the heights of celestial heavens. At its heart, Albedo focuses on the “whitening” stage of the alchemical process, where the practitioner learns to purify their subjective awareness through understanding and mastering karma.
What makes this volume particularly valuable is its practical approach to spiritual development. Rather than getting lost in abstract theory, Dr. Robinson guides readers through the actual process of inner transformation, explaining how to navigate the challenges of the spiritual path while maintaining a grounded perspective. The work seamlessly bridges Eastern and Western mystical traditions, offering a unique synthesis that speaks to contemporary spiritual seekers.