A Yoga of Life

"The essential form of knowledge... is nothing but a representation of truth:
for the truth of being and the truth of knowing are one,
differing no more than the direct beam and the beam reflected."

The word Philosophy is from the Greek, Philo-Sophia, which means ‘the love of Wisdom’. A philosopher is described, therefore, as a lover of Sophia—a seeker after Wisdom, wooing her with love.

But true Wisdom is Love—the radiance of Love. This is Truth. When the philosopher has discovered the truth and brought it to light, he or she becomes illumined by the Wisdom, thereby fulfilling the purpose of love by being love. Such a person is a true Gnostic—a Seer or Knower—one who sees and knows truth because he/she has discovered it, is in love with it, and knows it by living or being it.

Francis Bacon referred to Wisdom as Divinity. He is probably best known as one of the world's greatest philosophers, although he was also a profound mystic and a supreme poet who attributed most of his knowledge (which was vast) to divine inspiration and revelation. He consistently emphasised that Philosophy should go hand in hand with Divinity, and should serve Divinity as a handmaiden serves her mistress—Philosophy being the capacity of the loving mind to reflect and understand the light of the heart, and Divinity being the light of Love inspired into the human heart.

Just as Science and Art are the Twin Pillars of the Temple of Philosophy, so Divinity and Philosophy are the Twin Pillars of Life. The balance and union of the two completes the purpose of Existence, just as the Phoenix and Turtle Dove become one flame in their mutual love and then vanish together into the bosom of God. Such union, deliberately and willingly undertaken, is Yoga, the conscious union of the human soul with God. It is also known as the Mystical Marriage.

The real Baconian foundations and purpose of Science are to do with such Yoga. The Baconian Science and Art, which is Rosicrucian, has not yet been properly recognised let alone practised by society at large, and has very little to do with any purely mechanistic, utilitarian and exploitative aspects of modern science and society, or with any materialistic philosophy. Bacon’s philosophical and practical foundation of science and service has within it a graduated plan of action and development, which is a yoga. When practised it can help to bring the whole world into a Golden Age of wisdom, peace and prosperity—which is its intention.

The Francis Bacon Research Trust