From the book
The Kybalion
Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Death and immortality
Death; Mortal; annihilated
Death is interpreted as a transition within continuous life, rather than final extinction of the self.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordDeath is interpreted as a transition within continuous life, rather than final extinction of the self.
- In The KybalionIV begins from the birth, growth, and decline of changing things.
- In this editionDeath, mortal, and annihilated are retained without converting them into a single modern account of personal survival.
- A place to readIV.3: … “tearing down; creation and destruction; birth, growth and death. Nothing endures but Change. And if he” …
Meaning
Death is interpreted as a transition within continuous life, rather than final extinction of the self. Yet the text also calls even advanced spiritual beings mortal, so continued life and absolute unconditioned existence are not the same claim.
Use in the book
IV begins from the birth, growth, and decline of changing things. V reassures the reader that death is birth into a new life and that progress will continue through aeons. VII says that the spirit of each soul is not annihilated at the final return, but infinitely expanded.
VIII nevertheless calls the gods mortal because they remain within the created universe. XI repeats birth, death, and rebirth as a cosmic rhythm. These statements describe continuity through changing conditions while reserving the ultimate status to THE ALL.
Places to read
- IV THE ALL · Block 3… “tearing down; creation and destruction; birth, growth and death. Nothing endures but Change. And if he be a thinking man, he realizes that all of these changing things must be but” …
- V The Mental Universe · Block 18“And Death is not real, even in the Relative sense—it is but Birth to a new life—and You shall go on, and on, and on, to higher and still higher planes” …
- VII THE ALL in All · Block 13… “of Mysteries—the Spirit of each soul is not annihilated, but is infinitely expanded—the Created and the Creator are merged. Such is the report of the Illumined!”
- VIII Planes of Correspondence · Block 29… “Cosmic Processes and Universal Laws. They are still Mortal. We may call them "gods" if we like, but still they are but the Elder Brethren of the Race,—the advanced souls who” …
- XI Rhythm · Block 4… “swing from action to reaction; from birth to death; from activity to inactivity—and then back again. Thus it is with all living things; they are born, grow, and die—and then are” …
In this edition
Death, mortal, and annihilated are retained without converting them into a single modern account of personal survival.
Reading the argument
The promise of survival is a doctrine asserted by the work. It is not independently established by the image of a cycle or by the general observation that material forms change. The special language of immortality needs to be read with the limits placed on every created being.
Death
“Death” — 6 occurrences in 5 text blocks: Intro.8; IV.3; V.9, 18; XI.4.
Mortal
“Mortal” — 8 occurrences in 6 text blocks: IV.7; V.20; VI.6, 12; VII.19; VIII.29.
annihilated
“annihilated” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: VII.13.
From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Death and immortality
death; immortality; immortal; resurrection
Death and immortality form both a question about human destiny and a symbolic sequence of loss, trial, and renewed life.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordDeath and immortality form both a question about human destiny and a symbolic sequence of loss, trial, and renewed life.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryHiram's death, comparative myths, and the candidate's darkness organize an initiatory drama.
- In this editionResurrection is not automatically reduced to a seasonal event, though the solar interpretation applies that model in several passages.
- A place to readM.71: “70. " Hiram Abiff is dramatically represented to have lost his life when the temple was” …
Meaning
Death and immortality form both a question about human destiny and a symbolic sequence of loss, trial, and renewed life.
Use in the book
Hiram's death, comparative myths, and the candidate's darkness organize an initiatory drama. The philosophy of Masonry is also defined through divine unity and the immortality of the soul. The text can value the drama while leaving the legend's literal truth unsupported.
Places to read
- Mystic Masonry · Block 71“70. " Hiram Abiff is dramatically represented to have lost his life when the temple was near completion, and yet it is recorded that after the completion of the temple he” …
- Mystic Masonry · Block 73… “Phrygians, of which these people celebrated the passion, death and resurrection, as Christians celebrate to-day that of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, this is the eternal and unvarying type of all the religions” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 9… “doctrines, then, the unity of God and the immortality of the soul, constitute the philosophy of Freemasonry. When we wish to define it succinctly, we say that it is an ancient” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 54“259. "Darkness, like death, is the symbol of Initiation. It was for this reason that all the ancient initiations were performed at night. The same custom prevails in Freemasonry, and the” …
In this edition
Resurrection is not automatically reduced to a seasonal event, though the solar interpretation applies that model in several passages.
Reading the argument
The symbolic lesson and the metaphysical claim are related but different. A ceremony can teach hope or transformation without independently demonstrating personal survival. The source's explicit remarks about legend provide a way to keep these questions distinct.
death
“death” — 26 occurrences in 22 text blocks: D.3–4; M.68, 73–74; F.87, 89, 92, 132; S.16, 28, 34, 40–42, 46, 52, 54, 67, 113; R.18, 27.
immortality
“immortality” — 8 occurrences in 8 text blocks: M.1, 30, 43, 79; S.9–10, 38, 67.
immortal
“immortal” — 8 occurrences in 6 text blocks: D.15; M.1, 68; S.8, 97, 147.
resurrection
“resurrection” — 7 occurrences in 5 text blocks: M.73; S.34, 41, 52, 54.