Explanation of Hermes Trismegistus' "First Book"

This is a continuing series of explanations of Hermes Trismegistus' "First Book". I am attempting to separate out the lessons listed in Hermes first book, explaining each statement made by Hermes to the best of my ability and offering it to those who want my own personal interpretation. Of course, it becomes obvious that my answers are perceptions based on my own reasoning power, but I hope that some of these answers will spread some enlightenment to those who seek the answers from themselves.

"1. O my Son, I write this first Book, both for Humanity's sake, and for Piety towards God."

Hermes Trismegistus was attempting to bring an understanding of the Universal Soul to human beings; the Universal Soul being the example of our existence. There are four parts to the Universal Soul (known to psychiatrists as the Id); We are all human animals, we must all suffer tribulation, we must all live together and we must all procreate in order to continue with the beauty of life. Hermes life's work was to explain; whether he was a single individual, as he will be continually referred to throughout this text, or whether he was a construct of explainers over a span of many years. This first book not only explains the mind set Hermes was attempting to set forth, but also spreads the newfound power and majesty of the written word. The remarks made concerning "Piety towards God" is an attempt to invoke righteousness from the human animal through an explanation of the world around him. This is probably the first attempt at striking the fear of divinity into the hearts and souls of humans, which would force them to be more benevolent. Devoutness is acceptance of ones own humility, which leads to the acceptance of something, throughout existence, far grander than what can be ascertained through the use of our five senses and portrays a need for individuals to reject the need to simply fulfill baser desires without contemplation.

"2. For there can be no Religion more true or just, than to know the things that are; and to acknowledge thanks for all things, to him that made them, which thing I shall not cease continually to do."

A reference to the necessity of accepting all religions and dogma through tolerance and understanding. The first step towards understanding the universal equalizer, which is the question. The human animal derives different answers, but all must ask the same question; "Why do we exist?". There is no doubt that the human animal exists, contemplates and perceives; "I think, therefore, I am." Understanding what the grand creator appears to be is something we must each do individually, which ultimately makes each individual human the grand creator of all things through perception. However, humility dictates that acceptance of this profound answer would bring ruin to the psyche of the individual because of pride and arrogance. The human animal must be humble enough to give power up to an incorruptible power of understanding and not attempt to prove their unique deific-self to others.

"3. What then should a man do, O Father, to lead his life well, seeing there is nothing here true ?"

This is the realization that all answers, received outside of oneself, are truly lies. All facts are already known by the individual, but the human animal has not yet asked the proper questions, which would allow the answers to flow forth from and into their personal psyche. When a question is asked of another individual, the explanation given is only based upon the answerers personal experiences and knowledge. Any answer obtained from an outside source of perception would only influence the truth of ones' own perception and therefore the fact that exists already within our mind. Each individual is the center of the infinite void that stretches away from the human animal. All humans are their own grand creators when concerned with filling the Nothingness of this void. In order to live a decent life, one must consider what is decent for themselves and what brings out the best in them, in other words; one should fear and humble oneself before the grand creator.