Over his 70 year career, Manly Hall gave over 7000 public lectures and seminars on the timeless wisdom of Antiquity, from Alchemy to Zen Buddhism. The symbolism, allegories and esoteric knowledge were not just metaphysical musings - they all contained lessons on how to approach the problem of daily living. One only has to read his material or listen to his lectures to see that one of the most common themes he underscored was how we can directly apply this ancient wisdom to improve our modern lives.

To do this, he suggests developing a personal philosophy of value, cultivating a desire for growth and applying these metaphysical truths in a practical and tangible way. Freed from the chains and demands of the ego, or small self, one can then transcend the tensions of life and be empowered to approach any difficulty that may arise.