The Equinox Vol. I No. 2 POSTCARDS TO PROBATIONERS

POSTCARDS TO PROBATIONERS



                            THEOREMS

           I. The world progresses by virtue of the appearance of
                  Christs (geniuses).
          II. Christs (geniuses) are men with super-consciousness of
                  the highest order.
         III. Super-consciousnes of the highest order is obtainable by
                  known methods.
              Therefore, by employing the quintessence of known methods
                  we cause the world to progress.


                          ESSENTIALS OF METHOD

           I. Theology is immaterial; for both Buddha and St. Ignatius
                  were Christs.
          II. Morality is immaterial; for both Socrates and Mohammed
                  were Christs.
         III. Super-consciousness is a natural phenomenon; its
                  conditions are therefore to be sought rather in the
                  acts than the words of those who attain it.
              The essential acts are retirement and concentration ---
                  as taught by Yoga and Ceremonial Magic. {196}


                          MISTAKES OF MYSTICS

           I. Since truth is supra-rational, it is incommunicable in
                  the language of reason.
          II. Hence all mystics have written nonsense, and what sense
                  they have written is so far untrue.
         III. Yet as a still lake yields a truer reflection of the sun
                  than a torrent, he whose mind is best balanced will,
                  if he become a mystic, become the best mystic.


                        THE METHOD OF EQUILIBRIUM

                         I. THE PASSIONS, ETC.

           I. Since the ultimate truth of teleology is unknown, all
                  codes of morality are arbitrary.
          II. Therefore the student has no concern with ethics as such.
         III. He is consequently free 'to do his duty in that state of
                  life to which it has pleased God to call him.'

                            II. THE REASON

           I. Since truth is supra-rational, any rational statement is
                  false.
          II. Let the student than contradict every proposition that
                  presents itself to him.             {197}
         III. Rational ideas being thus expelled from the mind, there
                  is room for the apprehension of spiritual truth.
              It should be remarked that this does not destroy the
                  validity of reasonings on their own plane.

                         III. THE SPIRITUAL SENSORIUM

           I. Man being a finite being, he is incapable of apprehending
                  the infinite.  Nor does his communion with infinite
                  being (true or false) alter this fact.
          II. Let then the student contradict every vision and refuse
                  to enjoy it; first, because there is certainly another
                  vision possible of precisely contradictory nature;
                  secondly, because though he is God, he is also a man
                  upon an insignificant planet.
              Being thus equilibrated laterally and vertically, it may
                  be that, either by affirmation or denial of all these
                  things together, he may attain the supreme trance.

                               IV. THE RESULT

           I. Trance is defined as the ek-stasis of one particular
                  tract of the brain, caused by meditation on the idea
                  corresponding to it.
          II. Let the student therefore beware lest in that idea be any
                  trace of imperfection.  It should be pure, balanced,
                  calm, complete, fitted in every way to dominate the
                  mind, as it will.
              Even as in the choice of a king to be crowned.     {198}
         III. So will the decrees of this king be just and wise as he
                  was just and wise before he was made king.
              The life and work of the mystic will reflect (though
                  dimly) the supreme guiding force of the mystic, the
                  highest trance to which he has attained.


                             YOGA AND MAGIC

           I. Yoga is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea.
              It has four methods.
                     Gnana-Yoga.          Union by Knowledge.
                     Raja-Yoga.           Union by Will.
                     Bhakta-Yoga.         Union by Love.
                     Hatha-Yoga.          Union by Courage.
                add  Mantra-Yoga.         Union through Speech.
                     Karma-Yoga.          Union through Work.
              These are united by the supreme method of Silence.
          II. Ceremonial Magic is the art of uniting the mind to a
                  single idea.
              It has four Methods.
                     The Holy Qabalah.    Union by Knowledge.
                     The Sacred Magic.    Union by Will.
                     The Acts of Worship. Union by Love.
                     The Ordeals.         Union by Courage.
                add  The Invocations.     Union by Speech.
                     The Acts of Service. Union through Work.
              These are united by the supreme method of Silence. {199}
         III. If this idea be any but the Supreme and Perfect idea, and
                  the student lose control, the result is insanity,
                  obsession, fanaticism, or paralysis and death (add
                  addiction to gossip and incurable idleness), according
                  to the nature of the failure.
              Let then the Student understand all these things and
                  combine them in his Art, uniting them by the supreme
                  method of Silence.

                                            ALEISTER CROWLEY

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