“Universal Law: The Oldest Texts on Earth” Course
Course developed by Barry J. Lyons, Sr.
Class 1: The Quest for Origins – Text, Canon, and the Universal Mind
Introduction to the Course, Its Texts, and the Principle of Mentalism
Part I: Orientation to the Ancient Mind
The ancient peoples who first spoke these truths did not think of them as laws. They did not
write them down as abstract principles to be memorized. They did not separate them from
daily life, from agriculture, from birth and death, from the flooding of a river or the rising of a
star. They did not see a "law" called Vibration when they chanted a mantra; they felt the
sound moving through their bones. They did not study "Correspondence" as a philosophy;
they built temples aligned with constellations and buried their kings in pyramids that
mirrored the sky. For them, these were not rules. The moment we call something a "law,"
we distance ourselves from it. A law is something you follow. A description of life is
something you are.
When we reduce these ancient insights to a list of seven principles, we risk losing their raw,
visceral, embodied power. We risk turning a living river into a museum display.
The Core Question of the Course
"Why do human beings write down their spiritual experiences?"
The concept of canon: Is a text sacred because it is old, or is it old because it is sacred?
• Reflection - "What philosophical idea has most shaped my life?"
Part II: The Historical Landscape: The Most Ancient Texts
Sumerian/Mesopotamian:
• Kesh Temple Hymn (~2600 BCE)
• Instructions of Shuruppak (~2000 BCE)
• Epic of Gilgamesh (~2150–2000 BCE)
Egyptian:
• Pyramid Texts (~2400 BCE)
• Coffin Texts (~2100–1600 BCE)
• Book of the Dead / The Book of Coming Forth By Day (~1550 BCE)
Vedic:
• Rigveda (~1500–1200 BCE)
• Samaveda (~1200 BCE)
• Yajurveda (~1200 BCE)
Chinese:
• Oracle Bones (~1200–1050 BCE)
• Tao Te Ching (~4th century BCE)
Hebrew:
• Ketef Hinnom scrolls (~600 BCE)
• Torah (~4th century BCE compilation)
Discussion Question:
Does a text's appearance in other texts invalidate the text? Is it influence or plagiarism?
They form a horizontal corridor across Afro‐Eurasia called the “subtropical belt” of early
civilizations, about 20° and 40° latitude. Does this have significance?
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Part III: Hermeticism & The First Ancient Universal Principle:
(1) Mentalism
✓ What is Hermeticism?
Ancient spiritual, philosophical, and religious tradition meant to uncover the hidden
truths of the universe, attain cosmic enlightenment, and reunite the human soul with
the divine. At its core, it teaches that the universe is a unified, divine whole and that
everything is connected.
A. Historical Context: The Corpus Hermeticum – a Greco-Egyptian collection written
roughly 100–300 CE, attributed to the legendary figure Hermes Trismegistus (a fusion of the
Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth).
Hermeticism shaped the Renaissance, alchemy, Western esotericism, and even modern
New Thought movements.
The Corpus is not a single book but a series of dialogues. Its core message: God is Mind,
and the universe is a mental creation.
The Seven Principles:
1. Mentalism
2. Correspondence
3. Vibration
4. Polarity
5. Rhythm
6. Cause/Effect
7. Gender
B. Deep Dive: The Principle of Mentalism
The Principle of Mentalism states that everything in existence fundamentally originates
from consciousness, famously summarized by the maxim: "THE ALL is MIND; The Universe
is Mental". It posits that the entire cosmos is a projection of a universal mind, meaning that
thoughts and beliefs shape reality. The fundamental substance of reality is consciousness,
not matter. Everything you perceive, including your own body, is a manifestation of an
infinite, universal intelligence.
Three Key Implications:
The Creative Power of Thought: Your inner state shapes your outer reality.
The Universe as a Dream: This doesn't mean reality is "unreal," but it is meaningful, it is a
symbolic language.
The Human as Co-Creator: Because the All is Mind, and you are a part of the All, your
mind participates in the ongoing creation of the world.
C. Textual Evidence for Mentalism in Our Ancient Texts
• Egyptian (Memphite Theology): The god Ptah creates through the "thoughts of his
heart" and the "commands of his tongue." Creation happens first in the mind, then
in speech.
• Vedic (Nasadiya Sukta – Rigveda): "In the beginning, even nothing existed... by the
heat of desire, the first seed of mind was born." Desire/thought precedes form.
• Taoist (Tao Te Ching – Verse 1): The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao. The
"nameless" is the origin; the "named" is the mother of all things. The mind's naming
shapes reality.
• Hebrew (Genesis 1): "God said... and it was so." Creation is a mental-verbal act.
Part IV: Exercise: The "Mind as Creator"
Guided Visualization / Contemplative Exercise
Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths.
➢ Imagine a simple object, a stone, a flower, a candle flame. Hold it in your mind's eye.
Recognize that this mental image is not the object itself, but your mind has
"created" it in your awareness.
➢ Extend this: Imagine a memory: a place, a person, an event. Notice how your mind
recreates it.
Now, consider that your current emotional state: anxiety, joy, or boredom is also a
"creation" of your mind, based on your interpretation of events.
If the universe is fundamentally mental, then your thoughts are not just internal; they
are the substance from which your experience is made.
The Principle of Mentalism offers a unifying thread: whether Egyptian, Vedic, Taoist, or
Hebrew, ancient wisdom consistently points to consciousness as the foundation of
existence.
The mind is both the problem and the solution: this course is about learning to use it
consciously.
Homework & Reading for Next Week
Reading Assignment:
o Excerpts from the Corpus Hermeticum (Book I: The Poemandres, sections 1–10) –
focus on the vision of the divine Mind.
o Excerpts from the Egyptian Pyramid Texts (focus on the king's ascent as a
mental/spiritual journey).
http://www.sofiatopia.org/maat/wenis_commentary.htm
Journal Assignment:
"Identify one pattern in your own life that feels 'unchangeable.' Write a brief paragraph
reframing it as a mental creation rather than a fixed reality."
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