The first lesson of the Yogi Masters to the Candidates, leading up to the first degree, above mentioned, is as follows:  That the Supreme Intelligence of the Universe—­the Absolute—­has manifested the being that we call Man—­the highest manifestation on this planet.  The Absolute has manifested an infinitude of forms of life in the Universe, including distant worlds, suns, planets, etc., many of these forms being unknown to us on this planet, and being impossible of conception by the mind of the ordinary man.  But these lessons have nothing to do with that part of the philosophy which deals with these myriad forms of life, for our time will be taken up with the unfoldment in the mind of man of his true nature and power.  Before man attempts to solve the secrets of the Universe without, he should master the Universe within—­the Kingdom of the Self.  When he has accomplished this, then he may, and should, go forth to gain the outer knowledge as a Master demanding its secrets, rather than as a slave begging for the crumbs from the table of knowledge.  The first knowledge for the Candidate is the knowledge of the Self.

Man, the highest manifestation of the Absolute, as far as this planet is concerned, is a wonderfully organized being—­although the average man understands but little of his real nature.  He comprises within his physical, mental and spiritual make-up both the highest and the lowest, as we have shown in our previous lessons (the “Fourteen Lessons” and the “Advanced Course").  In his bones he manifests almost in the form of mineral life, in fact, in his bones, body and blood mineral substances actually exist.  The physical life of the body resembles the life of the plant.  Many of the physical desires and emotions are akin to those of the lower animals, and in the undeveloped man these desires and emotions predominate and overpower the higher nature, which latter is scarcely in evidence.  Then Man has a set of mental characteristics that are his own, and which are not possessed by the lower animals (See “Fourteen Lessons").  And in addition to the mental faculties common to all men, or rather, that are in evidence in a greater or lesser degree among all men, there are still higher faculties latent within Man, which when manifested and expressed render Man more than ordinary Man.  The unfoldment of these latent faculties is possible to all who have reached the proper stage of development, and the desire and hunger of the student for this instruction is caused by the pressure of these unfolding latent faculties, crying to be born into consciousness.  Then there is that wonderful thing, the Will, which is but faintly understood by those ignorant of the Yogi Philosophy—­the Power of the Ego—­its birthright from the Absolute.

But while these mental and physical things belong to Man, they are not the Man himself.  Before the Man is able to master, control, and direct the things belonging to him—­his tools and instruments—­he must awaken to a realization of Himself.  He must be able to distinguish between the “I” and the “Not I.”  And this is the first task before the Candidate.