by admin » Fri May 11, 2018 1:31 am
III. THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH
THE INITIATION.
I, Khaled Khan, beheld that Vision and received this Voice upon the Holy Hill of Sidi Bou Said, in the country now called Tunisia, but from of old sacred with many sanctities.
Thus far it is permitted me to speak freely of that which came to me in my long search for the True Wisdom; but to me in my long search for the True Wisdom; but to declare the Mode of mine Initiation, whereby I gained ingress to the Place called the Temple of Truth (but by some Dar-el- alal) it is forbidden. Nor may I disclose in what land that House is to be found, more openly than to say: It is cut from the living rock of the middle point of the summit of an high mountain apart, the range Jebel- el-Asharah.
Now being brought after many days into a Place where Light was, being shed through a carven screen of topaz, graved with a Rose of nine-and-forty petals on a Greek Cross, from the Sun, and that also at midnight, I found myself in the presence of a certain aged man (for it was written that His days should be an hundred and twenty years) who stood before a table of seven sides, whereon were fire, and incense in a thurible, and bread.
Of these did he bid me partake; and they being consumed, he took a phial of golden oil from their midst, and anointed mine eyes, and mine ears, and my lips.
With that I was aware of the image of a God, severe and noble of aspect, his spirit utterly calm, in his right hand a sickle and in his left an hourglass. And as I looked upon him, he reversed his wrist, for the last grain of sand was fallen through.
Then did my Instructor point with a little wand to a great chart not wholly filled, and there came the shadow of a man's hand, and drew the image of a Lion at the end of the writing.
Above this parchment, which was partly furled, was a square tablet of white marble, on which, inlaid in gold, I read these characters about the Image of an Eye within a radiant Triangle.
. .
S. . S . .
and this is, being interpreted, "The Great White Brotherhood."
Below was written: With Us Two Thousand Years is as One Day.
Then my Instructor showed me that the Brotherhood send forth one of their fellows every two thousand years, bringing one Word to serve Mankind as a new Formula of Magick, that it may take one further step on the long road that leadeth to Perfection.
Also, twice in that period, that is, at intervals of a little more than three, and a little less than seven, centuries, they send a lesser prophet to prepare the Way of the next Word, and to maintain or to restore the virtue of the Word then current.
And on the unfurled portion of the chart I read the names of certain of these Brethren, and the Words as one was uttered after the other. But some I could not read, because the characters were strange.
These:
FU-HSI.
After a great space (with few names and those illegible)
LAO-TZE, GAUTAMA, ZERDUSHT, PYTHAGORAS, DIONYSUS, OSIRIS.
These were sent forth at the same time - and Dionysus under several diverse forms - to enlighten Six Great Civilizations, about to be drawn together by the opening up of communications over the planet by the expansion of the Roman Power. After these there stood almost alone the name:
APOLLON.
But above that extract, the whole width of the chart, the word
I A O.
Then came a blackness over the whole map, for at one time the Brotherhood had been nigh utterly destroyed by a Great Sorcery of the Black Lodge, and the darkening of all Counsel, and the confusion of all Truth.
I saw only one glimmer bare legible:
PLOTINUS.
And at the end of the darkness, amid many names which I could not read,
JACOBUS BURGUNDUS MOLENSIS.
for his name was in letters of fire.
Did not the Order of the Temple prepare the Renaissance by fusing the Mysteries of the East and West?
Then there burst out on a sudden a whiteness on the chart, as if the stain had been expunged (albeit not wholly by the sweep of steel) and this word writ in curving characters scimitar-sharp
MOHAMMED.
Next was a name sore blurred:
SIR EDWARD KELLY,
with one writ in cipher ............. and in the centre of all, within the emblem of a ruby rose of five petals upon a golden cross was engraved:
CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ
(For so were the Brethren discreet to conceal his true name). After whom came three names Great and Terrible that I write not in this place. Lastly appeared this newly-writ hieroglyph of the Lion, and the Name of that Brother was hidden from me. Then was I shewn the Mystery of the Words: how in the first period of recorded history men thought that life came from Woman alone, and worked by the Formula of Isis, worshipping Nature chaste and kindly, not understanding Death, or the Arcanum of Love.
So, when the time was ripe, appeared the Brethren of the Formula of Osiris, whose word is I A O; so that men worshipped Man, thinking him subject to Death, and his victory dependent upon Resurrection. Even so conceived they of the Sun as slain and reborn with every day, and every year.
Now, this great Formula being fulfilled, and turned into abomination, this Lion came forth to proclaim the Aeon of Horus, the crowned and conquering child, who dieth not, nor is reborn, but goeth radiant ever upon His Way. Even so goeth the Sun: for as it is now known that night is but the shadow of the Earth, so Death is but the shadow of the Body, that veileth his Light from its bearer.
Of this Prophet the Word is
THELEMA (spelled in Greek letters)
Many and marvelous are the mysteries of this Word, and of the Numeration thereof! Nor may I declare them, save this the simplest, for the sake of little children:
"Love is the law, love under will."
The chart was suddenly furled close, and mine Instructor bade me turn: for there had come into that place a maiden like a golden rose, with curling locks and ruddy, and her breasts were of bright ivory, and her gait the gait of a young lioness.
Upon her brows flamed a Star Sapphire, and on her cheek was a stark scar, a circle deep and splendid. In whose hands was a writing; and smiling she put it into mine.
Now I knew not by what name to thank her for this courtesy: which understanding, she told me:
"My name is The Star of the North."
And this was the Proclamation:
TO MAN
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
My Term of Office upon the Earth being come in the year of the foundation of the Theosophical Society, I took upon myself, in my turn, the sin of the whole World, that the Prophecies might be fulfilled, so that Mankind may take the Next Step from the Magical Formula of Osiris to that of Horus.
And mine Hour being now upon me, I proclaim my Law.
The Word of the Law is Thelema (In Greek letters.)
Given in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea
AN XX Sol in 3 Deg. Libra die Jovis
by me To Mega Therion (In Greek letters.)
Logos Aionos Thelema (In Greek letters.)
Having read these words with deep attention eleven times, I besought mine Instructor (for the Maiden had returned to her Master) that he would clear those things which were dark to my weak understanding.
"In the Light of the Chart of the Work of the Brotherhood,"
I said, "the Will of the Master, and His Word, are made plain.
But of His hour I know not; and I tremble before the darkness of
this Mystery of Sin."
"Of his hour," answered my teacher, "it is easy to speak.
The Work of our Sister
Helena Petrowna Blavatsky
was inaugurated at the very season of the Birth on Earth of our Brother the Master whose Word is Thelema, whose Name is yet hidden under the form of a Lion. For it was most needful to prepare His Way that He might proclaim His Law in every land that is upon the surface of the Earth.
"And this work has been done by the Society founded to that end by our Sister. Yet even so, behold! Full Fifty years have passed, and only now is the hour of Power come upon our Brother the Lion to utter His Word with full efficacy to the whole Earth."
Now was he silent and my spirit was sore troubled; my face darkened, for I approached the Mystery of Sin.
But the countenance of my Teacher was glad; and his years fell from him like a mask; and his voice thrilled with the rapture of release.
THE MYSTERY OF SIN
"The word of Sin is Restriction. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
Such were the words of a certain square tablet of brass which lay upon the hexagonal table beneath the extended forefinger of mine Instructor. And because he saw that their sense was partly hidden from me, he called to my memory two other writings from a compilation of certain Jews of old: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"; and this: "The thought of foolishness is sin."
Now did I understand that all men live in sin, being baulked of their True Will, that is, of the free function of their essential nature. This restriction cometh much from their ignorance of what their True Will is, and much from external hindrance, but most of all from the interference of ill- controlled parts of their own instruments, the body and mind. For Freedom is not found in looseness and lack of governance, but in the right ruling of each individual of the common weal so as to assure his own well-being no less than that of the whole. And this effect is to be won by perfect organization under the eye of an Intelligence adequate to comprehend the general and the particular need together. The Way of Perfection is thus twofold: first, the True Will must be consciously grasped by the Mind, and this Work is akin to that called the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. Second, as it is written: "Thou hast no right but to do thy Will," each particle of energy which the Instrument is able to develop must be directed to the doing of that Will, and this is one fierce lion in the way, that until the second task be already far advanced, the confusion of the instrument is such that it is wholly incapable to accomplish the first.
Then said my guide: It is well. Learn this also, a great Mystery and wonderful, that all conflict between the parts of the Universe springs from this error, and none other. For in our infinite Space (which is nothing but our boundless range of possibilities) there is no need that any one should push his fellow aside. As there is room in Heaven for every Star to pass upon its Way unchallenged, so also with those Stars of Earth, which go masked as men and women.
Know therefore that this Law of Thelema
"Do what thou wilt"
is the first Law ever given to man which is a true Law for all men in every place and time. All earlier Laws have been partial, according to the faith of the hearer, or the customs of a people, or the philosophy of their sages. Nor is there need, with this Law of Thelema, of threats or promises: for the Law fulfilleth itself, so that the one reward is Freedom for him who doeth his will, and the one punishment is Restriction for him that goeth astray.
Teach thou therefore this Law to all men: for in so far as they follow it, they cease to hinder thee by their false random motion; and thou dost well to thyself in doing well to them. And he most hindereth himself who hindereth others from their Path, or who constraineth them to some motion improper to their Nature.
Note also this that many men, feeling themselves the bitterness of Restriction, seek to relieve their own pain by imposing a like burden upon their fellows: as it were a cripple who should seek ease by mutilating the bearers of his carriage.
Also, to deny the Law of Thelema is a restriction in oneself, affirming conflict in the Universe as necessary. It is a blasphemy against the Self, assuming that its Will is not necessary (and therefore a noble) part of the Whole. In a word he who accepts not the Law of Thelema is divided against himself: that is, he is insane, and the upshot shall be the ruin of the Unity of his Godhead.
Yet hearken again; the opposition of two movements is not always evidence of conflict or error. For two opposite points upon the rim of a wheel move one North, the other South; yet are they harmonious parts of the same system. And the rowlock which resisteth the oar hindereth not but aideth the True Will of that oar.
So then self-control is nowise the enemy of Freedom, but that which maketh it possible. And he who would deliver a muscle from its bondage to its bone by severing it rendereth that muscle impotent.
Moreover hear this word: as a muscle is vain, except it be rightly ordered, so also is thy work to be made easy by uniting thyself to the Work of the Master, even Therion, whose True Will it is to bring each Man's work to its perfection. To this end hath he proclaimed his Law; so also to that end, which is also thine, do thou add thy little strength to His great might. As it is written:
And blessing and worship to the Prophet of the lovely Star!
Thou, therefore - go on, go on in my strength, saith the Lord of the Aeon, and ye shall turn not back for any.
While he thus spoke, I felt constantly in myself a cleansing of heart; and my stature was increased, because of the straightening of my nature.
And as I thought thus, mine instructor, perceiving it, smiled upon me saying: In truth, O Khaled Khan, O child of the dawn of the Aeon, thou hast divined aright and profited in thy being by the Law of Thelema. For the Law is a just Law; it demandeth not the crooked knee of slavery, and the bowed head of shame. Nay, shouldst thou speak even to the God of gods, stand thou erect, that thou mayest be one with Him by Love, as He most surely willeth.
With that word, the walls of the little chamber in the Temple upon the Mountain-top fell suddenly away from about me, and I found myself alone in a desert place, strange and remote. And of that which befell me there may I not now speak. For there is a Beauty which hath no fitter ornament than Silence.
OZ: Liber LXXVII
"The law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world." AL. II. 21
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." AL. I. 40.
"Thou has no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay." AL I. 42-3.
"Every man and every woman is a star." AL. I. 3.
There is no god but man.
1. Man has the right to live by his own law -
to live in the way that he wills to do:
to work as he will:
to play as he will:
to rest as he will:
to die when and how he will.
2. Man has the right to eat what he will:
to drink what he will:
to dwell where he will:
to move as he will on the face of the earth.
3. Man has the right to think what he will:
to speak what he will:
to write what he will:
to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will:
to dress as he will.
4. Man has the right to love as he will: -
"take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where,
and with whom ye will." - AL. I. 51.
5. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights.
"the slaves shall serve." - AL. II. 58.
"Love is the law, love under will." - AL. I. 57.
ALEISTER CROWLEY