Michael Sternbach

Glad I could help.

All of it is true. In some world!

"The Silent Flute", starring David Carradine.

 

Did I win a prize now?

 

Edit: Just found out that the movie had an alternative title "The Circle of Iron."

 

1 hour ago, Giles said:

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I am sure you meant to say: "Someone's a troll on the Internet."

1 hour ago, Nungali said:

 

Thats actually an extract he wrote in The Book Of Lies , the book I mentioned earlier that was my teenage introduction to the author . 

 

Yes, it's originally from The Book of Lies, quoted by uncle Al himself in a letter which was later included in Magick without Tears. Got it?

 

The Book of Lies was also one of the very first of his books read by yours truly, when I was technically  a teenager still, and soon after I had been introduced to the Book of Thoth along with its corresponding Tarot deck (which is still my go-to deck, even though I own many others meanwhile). I then familiarized myself with The Book of Lies, more or less at the same time I also got to know The Book of the Law and Liber 777.

 

1 hour ago, Nungali said:

   And that is crystal clear ( compared to some other  chapters ) .

 

Huh? Which chapters did you find difficult to understand? 

 

1 hour ago, Nungali said:

I particularly like it as , back then I was a long distance runner .   I woud get int an altered state , unaware of my body , just 'looking out the windows of my eyes', actually, no  body sensations at all ... and I would marvel at the 'view outside'   as my body, of its own accord , jumped logs,  hop-frogged between boulders , lept over gaps .... a bit like watching a film .

 

Then one time, when camping , a fair way from a fresh water source , I elected to be the 'morning runner'  going to get water . Most of the run was along rocks by the surf - same thing . How on earth am I leaping and running  from rock to rock,  negotiating rock pools, and all that , while keeping balance  and not  'casting my eyes upon the ground ' ?    reading that passage made me realise it wasnt just me  .... it was a 'process'  we can develop .

 

I suppose  some can relate to the process with art, music or  specifically drumming ; one time after a voodoo session someone was amazed at my drumming ; " I never knew you could drum like that ! "

 

Me;  " No ... but that wasn't actually 'me' drumming ."

 

But those days are far behind ... except for a  surprise resurgence a few years back, when I did it with the twins  , one on each hip !  No chance now though . 

 

For me, the tie-in was especially with the martial arts I was practising at the time. But sure enough, the same principle applies to any kind of activity performed in the spirit of Zen/Dao, and whether or not it would be labelled as such.

 

Referring back to my previous quote of a quote of a quote, what I find particularly noteworthy is this:

 

All that moves well moves without will.

All skilfullness, all strain, all intention is contrary to ease.

 

Seemingly at odds with the general "Do What Thou Wilt" philosophy referenced in the same context perhaps, a statement such as this one should make clear that what Crowley proposed was something way more subtle and deeper than some kind of willful ego inflation (hence the qualifier 'true will'!). Consequently, uncle Al  wasn't exactly pleased when some of his students misinterpreted him in the latter sense.

 

As I said before, by no means did I intend this discussion to be limited to the Thelemic concept, though! Be free to reflect on the implications and explications of following one's will with reference to any tradition here, or to none at all.

 

Let's try and get practical! 

 

Please consider these questions:

• How do you make a significant decision in your life? How do you determine whether something is actually "right" for you?
• Do you welcome a new challenge despite the obstacles it may present you with and keep your eye on its potential rewards? Or do you tend to avoid it unless circumstances force you to dedicate yourself?
• How does one or the other  affect your outer and inner life experience subsequently?
• How do you deal with the necessity of letting go what's familiar and dear to you? What does it take to make you move out of your comfort zone?
• How much safety do you require for yourself and others involved before you are ready to make a move? Are you trying to plan ahead of time in minute detail? Or do you prefer to make up stuff on the fly?

I would love to hear about your personal experiences!

 

Michael 

10 hours ago, Giles said:

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Yes, they're very different. 

 

 

 

Actually, no. Crowley's 'Do What Thou Wilt' and Daoism's wu wei are approaches to the same principle, if from somewhat different perspectives.

 

Crowley's precept may focus on the 'will' aspect more (a matter of cultural emphasis perhaps, as Nungers suggested), but the call to follow one's true nature is very much the same in both cases.

 

Let's not forget that Daoism had a definite influence on Crowley's thinking in general (he actually even published a new translation of the DDJ).

 

The following excerpt from a letter he wrote to his 'sister', reproduced in chapter LXVII of Magick without Tears, may serve to illustrate the affinity:

Or in The Book of the Law.  You know the passage well enough.

Conclusion: this discussion has for ever abolished the use of the word faith to imply conscious belief of any sort.

At least, if there should ever be an element of awareness, it is of the nature of a sudden leap into daylight of the quintessence of a mass of subconsciously selected and ordered experience.

Then what, if you please, did Paul mean when he wrote “Faith is the substance of things hoped-for, the evidence of things unseen.”  Oh, spot the Lady!

Love is the law, love under will.

 

Crowley is talking pure Daoism in the above, for those that are ready to see it. While at the same time hinting at the concordance between the referenced principle and teachings of the Book of the Law.

14 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

Dont be vain .

 

 

( actually , the meaning of Solomon's Biblical  term 'vanity ' , is more like our term 'useless' or 'pointless'  . )

 

- anyway, its only relevant to a Jew a few thousand years back .   I mean ... if it is your True Will' to be a dancing girl  , who am I to pas judgment    

 

Better desist, or I might be tempted to evoke those belly dancers from your past that brought you to the limits of your manlihood! 

SO Thelema teaches us to follow our 'true will'.

 

Whereas Daoism and Zen advise to act spontaneously, in accordance with one's true nature (wu wei and mui, respectively). Which is understood to be an 'innocent' kind of action, even when it entails dismantling an adversary in a martial arts context.

 

Are those two concepts really different from each other?

3 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

I think a few of us here now realise that ruling armies, having palaces and teams of dancing girls are not really the supreme aim of life . 

 

They're not?! 

 

Now you spoiled it for me! Did you have to say that, mate?! 

3 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

 

I get it through a WIDE range of comparative studies and practices .

 

To many that do understand , Your viewpoint is very exoteric and not backed up by the understandings needed to comprehend such issues .

 

I would also add that someone who openly admits in public forum that they do have issues comprehending reality and understanding things , to the extent that you have have persecuting hallucinations, have or are having psychological treatments  and have or are having professional treatments including medications , might have a slightly clouded view on such a subject that has been veiled in the mysterious and occult .

 

Well, if you do want to get personal here ... and I am not being bitchy, I am merely outlining some facts that you yourself have told us ... I think it would be sensible to take these facts into account  when  analysing your individual understandings and observations about things  .

 

Oh well, that kind of thing can happen to the best of us...

 

2 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

Now yer talkin ' !

 

Looking at the makeup of the psyche  ( and MANY cultures  do this ) there are several 'parts' , and a part of our life's work / evolution is about a  right combining  of those . In Zoroastrianism its essential for  successful 'transmigration' , the Kvaranah is an essential component of that .  Then you WOULD be   led beyond limitations and into a greater world ... that of the 'Faravahar'

 

 

 

That is, the person's urvan (soul), mainyu (spirit), fravashi and khvarenah can unite and the spirits of the departed are generally referred to collectively as that person's (united) fravashi .

 

 The symbol of the fravahar or farohar  three meanings nowadays:

• As a general symbol of the Zoroastrian faith: a symbol of belonging to the Zoroastrian community and of being a Zoroastrian (a symbol in a manner similar to the Christian cross).
• As a fravahar or farohar: a general symbol of the united fravashi or a guardian angel.
• As a symbol used by a Persian Achaemenian king: a personal symbol of the king's khvarenah or farr, his kingship in grace, or his fravashi.

 

Whoa! Learning a bunch of new words here... It's much like trying to find your linguistic path through the Dune universe!

 

So in Zoroastrianism the 'greater world' or faravahar is somehow linked to one's 'united' ancestors and/or guardian angel?

 

And at the same time it seems to refer to the ruler's 'kingship in grace'... (That one actually quite resonates with me, especially since you said I was being graceful. :D)

 

Anyhow... Could you flesh all of that out for me a little more, please?

 

One association coming to mind here is Nietzsche's 'Superman', from his favorite of his own books which he may not by chance have titled Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

 

 

2 hours ago, Nungali said:

One might note the  similarity in the image with the winged disc of Egypt  ... and Egyptian  'soul science' also relies  on a bringing together of soul components during our life to achieve 'immortality of spirit ' .

 

 

I am actually much more familiar with the ancient Egyptians' terminology than with the Persians'. And now I wonder if the concept of the True Will might have its equivalent in that system as well. (Waiting for the cat to chime in.)

20 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

I could try and guess what you mean , or you could explain exactly what you mean .

 

My guess is you took some sort of offence at my directness or that I am not as 'nice' and graceful as  Sterny  or  I was too direct . 

 

Awesome, I am graceful!  Thanks, mate.

 

Just for the record, I did not intend this topic to be another discussion about uncle Al. In fact, I wouldn't have had to mention him at all, but I couldn't help it - his phrases are just SO catchy!

 

How about chewing over my Matrix Resurrections reference for a change? Has anyone in lockdown land actually been able to watch the movie - or, for that matter, to make sense of it? The question of one's true will is central to it in my view.

 

And it does cause the heroic protagonists to wreak havoc on their adversaries (who may be AI's alright, but regardless...) - which illustrates that the add-on 'harm none' is indeed a tricky one.

 

But the aspect that actually interests me most is how following your true will has the power to lead you out of your preconceived limitations and into a greater world.

 

At the end of the day, isn't that what 'cultivation' is all about? The realization of your and your world's full potential?

 

 

47 minutes ago, Apech said:

 

Cool image, Catman!

 

Reminiscent of a Tesla coil.

 

What's the source of it?

9 hours ago, Lairg said:

How to distinguish the personal will from the spiritual will?

 

The key is removal of those layers of thought and emotion which inhibit your perception of and ability to act upon your true will.

 

9 hours ago, Lairg said:

The lowest level of spiritual will manifested by the human may be Atma - coming under control at third stage enlightenment.

 

Use of higher levels of spiritual will generally requires the entity to leave the human kingdom

 

Not likely to happen anytime soon. Your task as a soul incarnated in physicality is learning to manifest your spiritual nature to the utmost degree.

 

At the current stage of evolution, few are able to do that. However, each of them is helping to set a path for others to follow.

Old3bob,

 

I sympathize with your objection. No doubt this is a difficult subject.

 

In theory, by following your true will - which is the mandate of your spiritual inner self - you will be acting in ways that would benefit the whole. But as a matter of fact, we can't even always know what the ramifications of our most well-intended actions may be. And yet act we must.

 

You mentioned tyrants imposing their will to power on countless innocent people and thereby causing untold suffering. My first question would be, are they actually following their true will? Or are they (perhaps along with those of lesser, but nonetheless destructive enough influence) so divorced from their innermost divine self that they are no longer able to do so?

 

We might assume this to be the case, however, there is another consideration to make. Wars and other destructive mass events - dreadful as they are - do not occur without reason. For the sake of humanity's evolution, smouldering conflicts must eventually be worked out one way or another. Old structures must be destroyed and give way to new ones. Sadly, as a species we have not yet attained the wisdom to always do so in non-violent ways.

 

All this ties in with our evolution from instinct driven creatures to sophisticated creative entities.

 

It's a fair assumption that a lion chasing after an antelope is following his true will. And surely the antelope is doing the same by getting the heck out of there!

 

The Dao is non-partial. It does not conform to our standards of morality. It sets in motion whatever forces may lead to a new balance and a more evolved condition overall - eventually. And while doing so, it reckons in terms of decades, centuries, millenia.

 

We humans are overwhelmed with such a perspective. Often enough, we don't see the big picture. God's ways are truly inscrutable.

 

The philosophy of "do what thou wilt" is meant as a guide line for spiritually oriented individuals seeking to play their rightful part in the cosmic game regardless. Well understood, it's probably the best advice that anyone can be given.

Hi Shadao,

 

What comes to mind is that black, white, and red are actually the three central colours of the Great Work in western alchemy, which is aimed at the creation of the Philosopher's Stone.

 

The finished Stone itself is described as being of a deep purplish red. However, before that, it will pass through lighter hues - starting from yellow, so the orange and red tones you described would be somewhere mid-way.

 

All of that after having gone through the initial black and white stages, to be sure. 

 

I find these associations particularly fitting because what you saw was located in the area of your crown chakra, and the Philosopher's Stone is frequently associated with royalty, gold, the Sun, and so forth, which can all be seen as analogous with the crown.

 

To sum this up, I think the colours you described as showing themselves in that location might indicate that you are approaching a realization of your inner 'solar' self, with some 'speckles' of the foregoing stages still lingering.

 

It would be interesting to see if the red part is going to intensify, with the orange one being reduced in due course.

 

Cheers

Michael 

Hi Bums,

 

If you are anything like me, there are all kinds of things that you want to do, have, be. Also, there are frequently plenty of obstacles seemingly just designed to keep most of those things you desire off limits. How are you going to handle that dilemma, once you heard the call?

 

To be brutally honest with you, most people, most of the time, won't handle it at all. They haven't been taught how to do this! What they have been taught is to be content and not to challenge all those boundaries imposed on them pretty much from the moment they were born.

 

The latter take many forms. Some are disguised as 'common sense', meaning what you are "realistically speaking" able to do, given your internal and external circumstances. Others are implied by social rules, with their endless "dos" and "don'ts." And some are the result of apparent expectations by those you care for (and I say "apparent" because those expectations are not always what they seem to be on the surface!). Not to forget, the spiritual tradition you follow may be singing from that same song-sheet of acceptance and humility.

 

And don't get me wrong, getting rid of a particular limitation may not be your best choice in every  case. At any rate, it can't always be done right away and without some sacrifice.

 

Now if you look deeper, you will  find many of your boundaries to actually be self-imposed. Typically  they are based on fear of doing the wrong thing and getting in trouble; on lack of confidence in your aspirations and/or in yourself; on reluctance to move out of your comfort zone. Here you have summed up some of the major reasons why a lot of people content themselves with second best!

 

Yes, accepting the challenge of living your life to its full potential may indeed be daunting at times. It may well involve letting go of your sense of security.

 

However, make no mistake: what seems like a safe way to play the game may turn out not to be so after all. And those unsatisfactory things that you pretend not to acknowledge and therefore leave alone tend to come back at you and hit you right in the face - especially when least expected!

 

By the way, have you seen Matrix Resurrections yet? (Remember, all Matrix movies are required 'viewing' for spiritual seekers! ) Well, if you have, you will know that Neo tells Morpheus that he has "fought enough already" at first. And as a result, he gets whacked around quite a bit! That is, before he finally gets the message, turns the tables on his relentless mentor and blows him right through the dojo wall...

 

As will be seen later, Neo needed that lesson; by the time The Analyst counts on him and his 'twin flame' Trinity to go back to their pods and have themselves reintegrated into the virtual bliss of the Matrix (as no doubt the average person would prefer to do) he's got enough fight back in him to not play along and change things big time - not just for himself, but for everyone around him as well! (Boy, you really gotta love those Matrix movies - and watch them more than once - for all those profound messages they contain! :D)

 

Alright, now let's contemplate Aleister Crowley's central message once again :

 

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law

Liber Al vel legis I:40

 

Jesus, that one is spiritual dynamite! If you actually implement it, chances are it will change your life for good. Without any guarantees that you will prevail. Without a return ticket at hand. And trust me, there be dragons! 

 

However, the gods will help those who dare take a chance. Whose greatest regret would be not having lived their life to the full. Who aspire to be the best they can be - regardless of the consequences.

 

Because they will recognize them as being of their own kind.

 

Thoughts, anyone?

 

Cheers

Michael 

A still mind is one that is allowing thoughts to come and go, but doesn't get entangled in any of them. A solid rock in the turbulent waters, as it were.

 

Also, there is no singular state of mind that fits every situation. For instance, I sometimes like to spend hours deeply immersed in thought. However, every time I am faced with twenty adversaries swinging weapons at me, I make sure I keep my mind in that free flowing state, because the moment it stops I'd be cut down.

Catdog

 

Draco,

 

Colloidal silver can be expected to have therapeutic merit when indicated, but I wouldn't take it indiscriminately - at least not for very long.

 

Also, I wonder why exactly you called it "the Alchemist's Quicksilver" in your topic header? Silver and mercury are both used by alchemists, however, they are well understood to be two quite distinct substances.

 

Even though it's true that terms in alchemy tend to be a bit of a mess traditionally, and I can not rule out that once some alchemists may have mixed them up the way you suggested.

 

 

3 hours ago, Nungali said:

I used it for a while, but I made it myself  , hence , was able to do my own quality control ( the size of the particles ) .

 

What manufacturing method did you use? As it happens, I was just part of a discussion regarding this topic on Alchemy Forums, where I suggested applying sodium citrate as a reducing and stabilizing agent to a solution of silver nitrate. Which is basically the classical method, used by Michael Faraday back in the day (oops, pun pun...).

 

But I am aware there are various ways of getting  noble metals in colloidal form, and I would be curious to learn yours!

 

3 hours ago, Nungali said:

  It should not appear to have any ting of a greyness to it , should be clear or even slightly gold . When the particles are too big (dangerous) of  the solution has been oxidised to ant extent , it will get a hint of grey in it . This is a problem as it is stored in coloured glass to decrease the effect of light on the solution  and that does not enable one to check the solution until after it is bought and some is examined in the light . I did that once and the solution had a grey tinge to it - so never bought any again .  I would not take it again unless I made it myself .

 

I took it for some time as treatment against Hep C .  I also used, at the same time , blood electrification .  I had hep - C for around  20 years with virtually no degeneration - doctor was surprised  ( I also did bouts of CTM as well ) .  Eventually I  got the new medicine that got rid of it .

 

I was fortunate enough to have access to natural colloidal gold for a while - in a natural water source   ( it was a secret  source at a sacred site , the custodians didnt want it known about as it indicated a source of gold upstream and ... well, we know what THAT would have caused  if it got out ! ) .

 

 

 

That's amazing! I know of a single observation of naturally occurring gold colloid only, and guess what, it's from downunder too!

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224923601_Naturally_occurring_gold_nanoparticles_and_nanoplates

 

I wonder if this could have been from the same source, actually. 

Concorde

 

Virtual

Kettlebells

5 hours ago, Dai Zhi Qiang said:

It has pretty much been debunked that Bodhidharma, was not the origin of Chinese Martial arts (CMA's have existed for thousands of years in some shape or form before he came to China) as for the Yi Jin Jing and Xui Sui Jing, this is also the same.

 

As the wise man says: "If it is not true, it is at least well invented."