Difference between revisions of "Book of the Law"

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The Book of the Law is the centralmost holy book in the religion of Thelema.  It is the basis of Thelemic thought and outlines the conduct of the thelemite as well as propounds several metaphysical concepts regarding the Universe and humanity.
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The Book of the Law is the centralmost holy book in the religion of [[Thelema]].  It is the basis of Thelemic thought and outlines the conduct of the thelemite as well as propounds several metaphysical concepts regarding the Universe and humanity.
  
 
== Origin of the Book ==
 
== Origin of the Book ==
  
In April of 1904, [[Aleister Crowley]] received the Book of the Law, what would one day become the central text of a new religion, Thelema.  At first, he rejected the Book of the Law since he was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist Buddhist] and he saw the work as clashing with Buddhism.  However, as time went by, he began to see the wisdom in the book.
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In April of 1904, [[Aleister Crowley]] received the Book of the Law, what would one day become the central text of a new religion, [[Thelema]].  At first, he rejected the Book of the Law since he was a {{wikipedia|Buddhist}} and he saw the work as clashing with Buddhism.  However, as time went by, he began to see the wisdom in the book.
  
The Book of the Law was dictated to Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt by an unseen person in the room named Aiwass.  Crowley went through various stages of trying to figure out who Aiwass was.  At first he was convinced it was one of the Secret Chiefs of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].  After a while, he became satisfied that it was his own [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Holy_Guardian_Angel Holy Guardian Angel].  Although it is true that, at times at least, Crowley himself believed the Holy Guardian Angel to be [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_43.html separate from himself], many believe the Holy Guardian Angel to be one's True Self without the delusions we have forced upon ourselves through false perceptions.
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The Book of the Law was dictated to [[Aleister Crowley]] in Cairo, Egypt by an unseen person in the room named Aiwass.  [[Aleister Crowley | Crowley]] went through various stages of trying to figure out who Aiwass was.  At first he was convinced it was one of the Secret Chiefs of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].  After a while, he became satisfied that it was his own [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Holy_Guardian_Angel Holy Guardian Angel].  Although it is true that, at times at least, [[Aleister Crowley | Crowley]] himself believed the Holy Guardian Angel to be [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_43.html separate from himself], many believe the Holy Guardian Angel to be one's True Self without the delusions we have forced upon ourselves through false perceptions.
  
 
The [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/The_Book_of_the_Law reception of the Book of the Law] marked a turning point in Crowley's life.  Over the years, he became more geared towards spreading the Law of Thelema to the world.  In it, there are spiritual, social, and ethical considerations for the new [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Aeons Aeon].   
 
The [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/The_Book_of_the_Law reception of the Book of the Law] marked a turning point in Crowley's life.  Over the years, he became more geared towards spreading the Law of Thelema to the world.  In it, there are spiritual, social, and ethical considerations for the new [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Aeons Aeon].   
  
The [http://www.hermetic.com/220/engccxx.html Book of the Law] states that each person should decide the meaning of the verses for him or herself based upon [http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comments.html the commentary] of the Prophet.  This was presumably stated so that Thelema would never become dogmatized like other religions with "official" meanings to the verses.  The verses seldom mean what they appear to mean at face value and the individual is expected to research and extrapolate the meaning for himself.
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The [http://www.hermetic.com/220/engccxx.html Book of the Law] states that each person should decide the meaning of the verses for him or herself based upon [http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comments.html the commentary] of the Prophet.  This was presumably stated so that [[Thelema]] would never become dogmatized like other religions with "official" meanings to the verses.  The verses seldom mean what they appear to mean at face value and the individual is expected to research and extrapolate the meaning for himself.
  
 
== Cakes of Light ==
 
== Cakes of Light ==
  
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cake_of_Light According to Wikipedia], Cake of Light is the name of the eucharistic host found within [[Thelema]]. It contains meal, honey, and oil for the base ingredients, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer. It appears by name in two important Thelemic rituals: the Gnostic Mass and the Mass of the Phoenix. However, Crowley thought it was important for magicians to perform a eucharistic ritual of some kind (presumably the Mass of the Phoenix) daily (from [[Magick]], Book 4, ch. 20).
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{{wikipedia|Cake_of_Light|According to Wikipedia}}, Cake of Light is the name of the eucharistic host found within [[Thelema]]. It contains meal, honey, and oil for the base ingredients, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer. It appears by name in two important Thelemic rituals: the Gnostic Mass and the Mass of the Phoenix. However, [[Aleister Crowley | Crowley]] thought it was important for magicians to perform a eucharistic ritual of some kind (presumably the Mass of the Phoenix) daily ([http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/chap20.html from Magick, Book 4, ch. 20]).
  
In the Book of the Law, Crowley was given a recipe for the [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Cakes_of_light Cakes of Light] and one of the possible ingredients is the blood of a child.  This is often misunderstood to mean the sacrifice of a living child or the bloodletting of one, however, it is a phrase used to indicate sexual fluids which would be considered a potential child.
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In the Book of the Law, [[Aleister Crowley | Crowley]] was given a recipe for the [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Cakes_of_light Cakes of Light] and one of the possible ingredients is the blood of a child.  This is often misunderstood to mean the sacrifice of a living child or the bloodletting of one, however, it is a phrase used to indicate sexual fluids which would be considered a potential child.
  
== The Law of Thelema ==  
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== Francois Rabelais ==
  
The Law of Thelema was given to Aleister Crowley in the Book of the LawIt is the central tenet of the book.  The Law of Thelema states:
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[http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/rabelais.htm Francois Rabelais] (1494-1553) was a French Franciscan Friar who is best known for his monumental work of satire called [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Gargantua and Pentagruel]He is featured as one of the saints in [[Aleister Crowley| Crowley's]] [http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/gnostic_mass.htm Gnostic Mass].
  
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawLove is the law, love under will."
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In Gargantua and Pentagruel, which is a work of fiction, Rabelais tells us about an order of monks called Thelemites.  Their sole law is "Do What Thou Wilt" and is [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1200/1200-h/p1.htm#2HCH0057 posted above the doorway] in their "Abbey of Theleme"In the description that Rabelais extends, the monks are all dressed in finery, exhibit the graces of gentleman and ladies, and live by their own personal laws. Since [[Aleister Crowley | Crowley]] started a monastery called the [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Abbey_of_Thelema Abbey of Thelema] which also had "Do What Thou Wilt" above the doorway, we can conclude that Rabelais' work was a tremendous influence upon Crowley.
  
== Francois Rabelais ==
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However, the Law of Thelema, the main tenet of the Book of the Law, which is "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the LawLove is the law, love under will" is a much deeper statement than it suggests [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib2.html at face value].  So, while Rabelais was certainly a main influence, it was only a suggestion which Crowley's Holy Guardian Angel expounded on greatly.
 
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Of course, at first notice, one sees the phrase "Do What Thou Wilt"This was [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1200/1200-h/p1.htm#2HCH0057 inscribed upon the Abbey of Theleme] in [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Gargantua and Pentagruel] by Francois Rabelais.  Francois Rabelais is one of the saints in the Gnostic Mass.  So, it is very evident that Crowley not only knew of Rabelais' work, but considered him an inspiration for Thelema.
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== Relevance to Lonelygirl15 ==
 
== Relevance to Lonelygirl15 ==
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In [[Drop 2 (where IS she going?)]], one of the items included was the Book of the Law.   
 
In [[Drop 2 (where IS she going?)]], one of the items included was the Book of the Law.   
  
== External Links ==
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== External links ==
  
 
*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/engccxx.html The Book of the Law online]
 
*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/engccxx.html The Book of the Law online]
 
*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comments.html Commentary to the Book of the Law]
 
*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comments.html Commentary to the Book of the Law]
 
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/The_Djeridensis_Working The Comment Called D]
 
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/The_Djeridensis_Working The Comment Called D]
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[[Category: Tachyon drops]]

Latest revision as of 21:11, 16 September 2007

The Book of the Law is the centralmost holy book in the religion of Thelema. It is the basis of Thelemic thought and outlines the conduct of the thelemite as well as propounds several metaphysical concepts regarding the Universe and humanity.

Origin of the Book

In April of 1904, Aleister Crowley received the Book of the Law, what would one day become the central text of a new religion, Thelema. At first, he rejected the Book of the Law since he was a Buddhist and he saw the work as clashing with Buddhism. However, as time went by, he began to see the wisdom in the book.

The Book of the Law was dictated to Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt by an unseen person in the room named Aiwass. Crowley went through various stages of trying to figure out who Aiwass was. At first he was convinced it was one of the Secret Chiefs of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. After a while, he became satisfied that it was his own Holy Guardian Angel. Although it is true that, at times at least, Crowley himself believed the Holy Guardian Angel to be separate from himself, many believe the Holy Guardian Angel to be one's True Self without the delusions we have forced upon ourselves through false perceptions.

The reception of the Book of the Law marked a turning point in Crowley's life. Over the years, he became more geared towards spreading the Law of Thelema to the world. In it, there are spiritual, social, and ethical considerations for the new Aeon.

The Book of the Law states that each person should decide the meaning of the verses for him or herself based upon the commentary of the Prophet. This was presumably stated so that Thelema would never become dogmatized like other religions with "official" meanings to the verses. The verses seldom mean what they appear to mean at face value and the individual is expected to research and extrapolate the meaning for himself.

Cakes of Light

According to Wikipedia, Cake of Light is the name of the eucharistic host found within Thelema. It contains meal, honey, and oil for the base ingredients, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer. It appears by name in two important Thelemic rituals: the Gnostic Mass and the Mass of the Phoenix. However, Crowley thought it was important for magicians to perform a eucharistic ritual of some kind (presumably the Mass of the Phoenix) daily (from Magick, Book 4, ch. 20).

In the Book of the Law, Crowley was given a recipe for the Cakes of Light and one of the possible ingredients is the blood of a child. This is often misunderstood to mean the sacrifice of a living child or the bloodletting of one, however, it is a phrase used to indicate sexual fluids which would be considered a potential child.

Francois Rabelais

Francois Rabelais (1494-1553) was a French Franciscan Friar who is best known for his monumental work of satire called Gargantua and Pentagruel. He is featured as one of the saints in Crowley's Gnostic Mass.

In Gargantua and Pentagruel, which is a work of fiction, Rabelais tells us about an order of monks called Thelemites. Their sole law is "Do What Thou Wilt" and is posted above the doorway in their "Abbey of Theleme". In the description that Rabelais extends, the monks are all dressed in finery, exhibit the graces of gentleman and ladies, and live by their own personal laws. Since Crowley started a monastery called the Abbey of Thelema which also had "Do What Thou Wilt" above the doorway, we can conclude that Rabelais' work was a tremendous influence upon Crowley.

However, the Law of Thelema, the main tenet of the Book of the Law, which is "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will" is a much deeper statement than it suggests at face value. So, while Rabelais was certainly a main influence, it was only a suggestion which Crowley's Holy Guardian Angel expounded on greatly.

Relevance to Lonelygirl15

In Drop 2 (where IS she going?), one of the items included was the Book of the Law.

External links