From the book
The Kybalion
Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordTHE ALL is the technical name for the comprehensive and ultimate reality on which every finite manifestation depends.
- In The KybalionIV chooses the expression to name the underlying power while admitting that its essential nature is unknowable.
- In this editionTHE ALL is retained in capitals.
- A place to readIV.5: … “Underlying Power—this Substantial Reality—by the Hermetic name of "THE ALL," which term we consider the most” …
Meaning
THE ALL is the technical name for the comprehensive and ultimate reality on which every finite manifestation depends. It is more than a collective name for the visible objects in the universe.
Use in the book
IV chooses the expression to name the underlying power while admitting that its essential nature is unknowable. The argument attributes infinity, eternity, and immutability to it because nothing is admitted outside it. The chapter ultimately identifies it as infinite living mind.
V explains the universe as its mental creation, and VII describes its presence in all things. That presence does not make a particular person identical with the source. VIII maintains the same distinction even for the highest spiritual beings, while XII places all finite causation within its order.
Places to read
- IV THE ALL · Block 5… “Underlying Power—this Substantial Reality—by the Hermetic name of "THE ALL," which term we consider the most comprehensive of the many terms applied by Man to THAT which transcends names and terms.”
- IV THE ALL · Block 7“The Hermetists believe and teach that THE ALL, "in itself," is and must ever be UNKNOWABLE. They regard all the theories, guesses and speculations of the theologians and metaphysicians regarding the” …
- IV THE ALL · Block 15“(1) THE ALL must be ALL that REALLY IS. There can be nothing existing outside of THE ALL, else THE ALL would not be THE ALL.”
- IV THE ALL · Block 17“(3) THE ALL must be IMMUTABLE, or not subject to change in its real nature, for there is nothing to work changes upon it nothing into which it could change, nor” …
- IV THE ALL · Block 23“"THE ALL" is Infinite Living Mind—the Illumined call it SPIRIT!”
- 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.”
In this edition
THE ALL is retained in capitals. Its concordance is case-sensitive and therefore does not count the ordinary determiner all, or every occurrence of The All in other typography.
Reading the argument
The words do important work in the reasoning. If the source is all, there can be no outside material or independent rival. Whether the defined source exists, and whether every attribute asserted of it follows, remain questions for the argument rather than consequences of capitalization.
THE ALL
“THE ALL” — 174 occurrences in 77 text blocks: II.6–7, 13; III.6, 14; IV.5–12, 14–21, 23; V.1–10, 12, 14, 16–18; VI.2, 4–6, 8–14; VII.1, 3–5, 8–18, 20; VIII.9, 11, 28–29, 31; IX.3, 9; X.3; XI.4; XII.4, 7, 13; XV.19.