Introduction to Background Notes

The spiritual foundation on which the ancient magi based their researches into the evolution of the universe stands out in sharp contrast to the material foundation on which most of today's scientists base their findings.

While contemporary science, at the end of the twentieth century, views the universe as an unintelligent form of life, governed by a number of fixed principles consistent with their knowledge of the physical world, the ancients saw the universe as a pulsating, intelligent, progressively evolving organism. The principles governing it were responsive to thought and feeling - flexible.

Consistent with this view, throughout all the 21 Brotherhood of Light Books, the terms character vibration and character quality are synonymous with the terms vibratory rate, wavelength and frequency.

The terms character vibration and character quality used in this sense, encompasses the properties of all thought and life forms - both on the outer physical, and the inner astral planes of existence.

This principle enabled the ancients to identify and determine the resonance or, as in a musical scale, the "resonating note" of all life manifestations.