The Hermetic Writings (3rd Century)

I find this writing to be very interesting while at some parts it is kind of confusing. For example, it said,

“Becoming everything is just another method of becoming nothing… If you do not make yourself equal to God, you cannot perceive God… Leap free of everything that is physical… realize that nothing is impossible for you…”

It begins by saying that if you try to become everything, then you are really becoming nothing. It then goes on to say all these things you need to be (such as EVERYTHING that is non-physical). It at first gave me the impression that we should not try to be too many things. I thought it would say that focus more on a few key things. As I kept reading, I realized that this writing was giving many different things we should try to be a do. At one point it says,

“Leap free of everything that is physical and grow as vast as the immeasurable vastness… recognize that you too are immortal and that you can embrace ALL THINGS in your mind.”

Maybe it is saying that embracing all things in our minds is good, will help us better perceive God, and it will make us as nothing. It seems kind of contradictory to me but I am sure that I do not have a good understanding as to what this writing is really saying (which is why I found it kind of confusing, haha). I really did like the statement that read,

“Wanting to know God is the road that leads to God, and it is an easy road to travel.”

If you are not in a sense “looking for God” or trying to know him, it makes sense that you will not find him. I found it interesting how it said that it is an easy road to travel. Many religious ideas do not say that finding God is an easy road to travel. In Christianity, it says that right way is along the narrow and difficult path to follow. Also finding “God” is sometimes related to giving up all things which also does not sound that easy. To me, you will not find God if you do not want to know him and it does not seem like an “easy” road to travel.