Theos-Talk Archives (November 1997 Message tt00387)

At 03:40 PM 11/22/97 -0500, Bart Lidofsky wrote:
>b888 wrote:
>
> Before I go on, I would like to thank you for the work and thought you
>put into answering a deceptively simple-looking question.
>> > Bart writes:
>> > What makes you think that the "Do what Thou Wilt" teaching is
hedonist?
>>
>> This Thelema motto began as I understand it with that cult known as the
>> Assassins, or hashish eaters. Later used by Francois Rabelais, then
>> purloined by the infamous Al Crowley.
>
> Note: It is interesting that when the same group of people make similar
>accusations against H.P.B. and Aliester Crowley, Theosophists generally
>consider the former to be entirely false and the latter to be entirely
>true. It is partially due to the fact that Crowley was a master at using
>language as a tool, something with which Blavatsky really couldn't be
>bothered. He wished to discourage the casual reader, and therefore wrote
>his books so that it had one meaning to the casual reader, and another
>to the careful reader, and that the casual reader would get turned off
>by his books. Unfortunately, like Blavatsky, AC had a bad temper, but
>with his mastery of the written word, was able to royally skewer anybody
>who crossed him (which included his best friends, at some time or
>other).
>
>> "Wilt" is the operative word here as this is the end result of those poor
>> souls who set forth on this road. The Greeks had a much better motto "Know
>> Thyself".
>
> But the point of "Do what Thou Wilt" is STRONGER than "Know Thyself".
>The word, "Thelema" means "Divine Will" (to be contrasted with
>"Theosophy", which means "Divine Knoweldge"). "Do what Thou Wilt" is
>different than "Follow you whims". It is a call to know you divine will
>(budhi, to Theosophists.). The idea is if everybody knew what their
>divine will was, and everybody followed it, there would be no conflicts,
>and therefore no need of any other law.
>
>> That this path is hedonistic is demonstrated by those who take it up. For
>> the impulses invariably come from the lower self, which seeks sensuous
>> enjoyment. For the higher self to take the reins of the chariot a "Thy Will
>> be done " attitude is needed.
>
> One of the problems that Crowley did not forsee when he wrote on two
>levels was that the level he designed to disgust people actually
>attracted some people to his works. They are not students of Crowley,
>but rather emulator's of Crowley's reputation, and an embarrassment to
>the true followers of Crowley (I am not a Crowleyite, but I have a
>number of good friends in the Caliphate OTO. There ARE major
>disagreements between Thelemites and Theosophists, but they are about
>which methods are most effective for reaching the same ends).
>
> Bart Lidofsky

Let me add my 0.02 on Crowley.

He is a racist.

He referred to Jiddu Krishnamurti as a "nigger". Addressing *anyone* as a
"nigger", simply indicates his attitude to anyone who is not his own color.
No matter how good his writings are, this is a serious attitudinal problem.


mkr