DiotimosReading Desk

Reality mind and the ultimate source

Immanence

immanent; Imminent

Immanence is the presence of the ultimate source within its manifestations.

From the book

The Kybalion

Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordImmanence is the presence of the ultimate source within its manifestations.
  • In The KybalionThe chapter opens with a reversal: all is in THE ALL, and THE ALL is in all.
  • In this editionVII.4 prints Imminent but immediately defines it as remaining within, inherent, and abiding within.
  • A place to readVII.1: “"While All is in THE ALL, it is equally true that THE ALL is in ALL.” …

Meaning

Immanence is the presence of the ultimate source within its manifestations. In VII the creator's life or power is said to be present in the created thing, while the thing remains dependent and does not become the whole creator.

Use in the book

The chapter opens with a reversal: all is in THE ALL, and THE ALL is in all. The first direction expresses containment or dependence; the second expresses indwelling presence. A mental image depends on its thinker, and its reality is borrowed from the mind in which it exists.

Shakespeare and Dickens then supply a more elaborate example. A character has the vitality given by an author, but the author is not identical with that character. The text carries the point down to the earthworm and up to the person's realization of indwelling spirit.

Places to read

  1. VII THE ALL in All · Block 1“"While All is in THE ALL, it is equally true that THE ALL is in ALL. To him who truly understands this truth hath come great knowledge."—The Kybalion.”
  2. VII THE ALL in All · Block 4… “are to the effect that THE ALL is Imminent in ("remaining within; inherent; abiding within") its Universe, and in every part, particle, unit, or combination, within the Universe. This statement is” …
  3. VII THE ALL in All · Block 5… “the Mind of THE ALL—yet THE ALL is immanent in the earthworm, and in the particles that go to make up the earth-worm. Can there be any greater mystery than this” …
  4. VII THE ALL in All · Block 7… “Man realizes the existence of the Indwelling Spirit immanent within his being, so will he rise in the spiritual scale of life. This is what spiritual development means—the recognition, realization, and” …

In this edition

VII.4 prints Imminent but immediately defines it as remaining within, inherent, and abiding within. The reading edition retains the slip and annotates it; the lexicon files the intended concept under Immanence.

Reading the argument

Immanence does not mean numerical identity between a finite being and the ultimate source. The distinction is important because the author treats the claim I am God as a half-truth, even while insisting on the source's presence in every being.

immanent

“immanent” — 4 occurrences in 3 text blocks: VII.4–5, 7.

Imminent

“Imminent” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: VII.4.