The Rosicrucian Order

The Rosicrucian Order is a legendary esoteric order with its roots in the western mystery tradition. This hermetic order is viewed among earlier and many modern Rosicrucianists as a "College of Invisibles" from the inner worlds, composed of great Adepts, aiming to give assistance in humanity's spiritual development.

The "Brethren of the Rose Cross" is perceived by students of metaphysics as an important part or even the source of the hermetic-Christian tradition of the western alchemy treatises period subsequent to the publication of Dante's The Divine Comedy (1308-1321).

However, researchers of history and society in general through the last centuries, dealing with objective material proofs, assume its origin in a group of German protestants, between 1607 and 1616, when three anonymous documents were elaborated and published in Europe: Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis, Confessio Fraternitatis, and Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz anno 1459. The influence of these documents, presenting the "most laudable Order" and promoting a "Universal Reformation of Mankind", was so huge that the historian Frances Yates refers to this period of the 17th century as the Rosicrucian Enlightenment. Members of organized Rosicrucian groups, however, date the beginning of the Order to much more ancient times.

Origins

In the 17th century, three Rosicrucian manifestos were anonymously published: Fama Fraternitatis in 1614, Confessio Fraternitatis in 1615, and the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz in 1616. Together they presented the legend of a German pilgrim named "C.R.C." (later introduced in the third Manifesto as Christian Rosenkreuz). The legend tells that this pilgrim studied in the Middle East under various occult masters and founded the Rosicrucian Order, which aimed to bring about a "universal reformation of mankind." During Rosenkreuz's lifetime, the Order was said to consist of no more than eight members, and when he died, the Order disappeared, only to be "reborn" in the early 17th century at the time of the publication of the manifestos.

The manifestos were filled with symbolism and have been interpreted in many ways over the centuries. They do not directly state Rosenkreuz's years of birth and death, but in the Confessio Fraternitatis the year 1378 is presented as being the birth year of "our Christian Father," and it is stated that they could describe the 106 years of his life, which would imply the year 1484 for his death. The foundation of the Order can be similarly deduced to have occurred in 1407. However, these dates are not taken literally by many students of occultism, and are considered as allegorical statements for the understanding of the initiated. The reasoning arises from the manifestos themselves: on one hand, the Rosicrucians clearly adopted the Pythagorean tradition of envisioning objects and ideas in terms of their numeric aspects, and, on the other hand, they directly state: "We speak unto you by parables, but would willingly bring you to the right, simple, easy, and ingenuous exposition, understanding, declaration, and knowledge of all secrets," but that a fundamental requisite to achieve this knowledge is "that we be earnest to attain to the understanding and knowledge of philosophy."

History

It is on the foundation of these teachings that Rosenkreuz conceived the plan for simultaneous and universal religious, philosophic, scientific, political, and artistic reform. To implement his plan, he united with several disciples (seven at first, according to Fama Fraternitatis), to whom he gave the name of Rose-Croix.

What was known in the early 17th century as the "Fraternity of the Rose Cross" — approximately a century prior to Adam Weishaupt's Enlightenment secret society, the Illuminati — seems to scholars that have been a number of isolated individuals who held certain views in common, which apparently was their only bond of union. These views were regarding hermetic knowledge, related to the higher nature of man, and also with common philosophical concepts of the foundation of a more perfected human society. There is no trace of a formal brotherhood or secret society which held meetings, or had officers or leaders and for this reason it has been deduced that the writers who posed as Rosicrucians were moral and religious reformers, and utilized the techniques of chemistry (alchemy), and the sciences generally, as media through which to publicize their opinions and beliefs. Their writings included a hint of mysticism or occultism, promoting inquiry and suggesting hidden meanings discernible or discoverable only by "Adepts."

The publications of Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis Confessio Fraternitatis (1615), and Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz caused immense excitement throughout Europe. These works declared the existence of a secret brotherhood of alchemists and sages who were preparing to transform the arts, sciences, religion, political, and intellectual landscape of Europe while wars of politics and religion ravaged the continent. Not only were these works re-issued several times, but they were followed by numerous pamphlets, favourable and otherwise, whose authors generally knew little of the real aims of the original author and often amused themselves at the public’s expense. It is probable that the first work was circulated in manuscript form about 1610, even though there was no mention of the order before that decade. In his autobiography, Johann Valentin Andreae (1586–1654) claimed the anonymously published Chymische Hochzeit ("Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz") as one of his works, although he subsequently described as a Ludibrium. However, in his later works, alchemy is the object of ridicule and is placed with music, art, theatre and astrology in the category of less serious sciences. His role in the origin of the Rosicrucian legend is controversial.

Rosicrucians and Religion

AMORC, which stands for Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, is not a religion and does not require a specific code of belief or conduct. Rosicrucian students come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. Becoming a Rosicrucian student does not in any way require you to leave your church, join a church, or change your religious beliefs. Some Rosicrucian members do not subscribe to any specific religious beliefs at all. For students who do, we encourage them to participate in the religion of their choice. As a result, Rosicrucian students come from every religious denomination, and through our teachings, many find a greater appreciation of the mystical principles underlying their individual religious and philosophical beliefs. Those who do not belong to any particularreligion often discover a sense of connection with a higher intelligence that was missing in their lives before.

The Rosicrucian path incorporates both metaphysics and mysticism. Metaphysics is that which falls beyond the five physical senses; for example, intuition, visualization, and healing techniques. Mysticism is simply the process by which you may eventually experience direct, conscious union with the Absolute, Divine Mind, Universal Intelligence, or what some Rosicrucian students call the God of their Hearts. This is not done by adhering to specific tenets or beliefs, but by learning and applying natural laws which, over time, allow you to
experience Divine or Cosmic Consciousness. The Rosicrucian Order does not attempt to define the nature of the deity. Rather, you will remain free to discover this through your own reflections. This same approach applies to everything that is presented through the Rosicrucian teachings.


We don’t expect you to accept anything on faith. We want you to think for yourself, to learn how to draw upon the higher knowledge already within you. What we provide are simply the tools to enable you to accomplish this. The Rosicrucian teachings contain practical exercises and experiments that allow you to demonstrate for yourself the principles presented in the lessons and to access your own source of inner wisdom and guidance. As you do this, you’ll begin developing natural abilities that may have been left dormant throughout your life. Almost immediately you’ll begin to see your life in a different light.


http://www.rosicrucian.org/about/mastery/mastery09faq.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosicrucian