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Text - Religion - Ordo Templi Orientis - Crowley, Aleister - Liber Librae.txt
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2003-08-09
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LIBER LIBRAE
Sub Figura XXX
0. Learn first - Oh thou who aspirest unto our ancient Order! - that
Equilibrium is the basis of the Work. If thou thyself hast not a sure
foundation, whereon wilt thou stand to direct the forces of Nature?
1. Know then, that as man is born into this world amidst the Darkness
of Matter, and the strife of contending forces; so must his first endeavor
be to seek the Light through their reconciliation.
2. Thou then who hast trials and troubles, rejoice because of them,
for in them is Strength, and by their means is a pathway opened unto that
Light.
3. How should it be otherwise, O man, whose life is but a day in
Eternity, a drop in the Ocean of time; how, were thy trials not many,
couldst thou purge thy soul from the dross of earth?
Is it but now that the Higher Life is beset with dangers and
difficulties; hath it not ever been so with the Sages and Hierophants of
the past? They have been persecuted and reviled, they have been tormented
of men; yet through this also has their Glory increased.
4. Rejoice therefore, O Initiate, for the greater thy trial the
greater thy Triumph. When men shall revile thee, and speak against thee
falsely, hath not the Master said, "Blessed art thou!"?
5. Yet, oh aspirant, let thy victories bring thee not Vanity, for with
increase of Knowledge should come increase of Wisdom. He who knoweth
little, thinketh he knoweth much; but he who knoweth much has learned his
own ignorance. Seest thou a m an wise in his own conceit? There is more
hope of a fool, than of him.
6. Be not hasty to condemn others; how knowest thou that in their
place, thou couldst have resisted the temptation? And even were it so, why
shouldst thou despise one who is weaker than thyself?
7. Thou therefore who desirest Magical Gifts, be sure that thy soul is
firm and steadfast; for it is by flattering thy weaknesses that the Weak
Ones will gain power over thee. Humble thyself before thy Self, yet fear
neither man nor spirit. Fe ar is failure, and the forerunner of failure:
and courage is the beginning of virtue.
8. Therefore fear not the Spirits, but be firm and courteous with
them; for thou hast no right to despise or revile them; and this too may
lead thee astray. Command and banish them, curse them by the Great Names
if need be; but neither mock or revile them, for so assuredly wilt thou be
led to error.
9. A man is what he maketh himself within the limits fixed by his
inherited destiny; he is a part of mankind; his actions affect not only
what he called himself, but also the whole universe.
10. Worship, and neglect not, the physical body which is thy temporary
connection with the outer and material world. Therefore let thy mental
Equilibrium be above disturbance by material events; strengthen and control
the animal passions, discip line the emotions and the reason, nourish the
Higher Aspirations.
11. Do good to others for its own sake, not for reward, not for
gratitude from them, not for sympathy. If thou art generous, thou wilt not
long for thine ears to be tickled by expressions of gratitude.
12. Remember that unbalanced force is evil; that unbalanced severity is
but cruelty and oppression; but that also unbalanced mercy is but weakness
which would allow and abet Evil. Act passionately; think rationally; be
Thyself.
13. True ritual is as much action as word; it is Will.
14. Remember that this earth is but an atom in the universe, and that
thou thyself art but an atom thereon, and that even couldst thou become the
God of this earth whereon thou crawlest and grovellest, that thou wouldst,
even then, be but an atom , and one amongst many.
15. Nevertheless have the greatest self-respect, and to that end sin
not against thyself. The sin which is unpardonable is knowingly and
wilfully to reject truth, to fear knowledge lest that knowledge pander not
to thy prejudices.
16. To obtain Magical Power, learn to control thought; admit only those
ideas that are in harmony with the end desired, and not every stray and
contradictory Idea that presents itself.
17. Fixed thought is a means to an end. Therefore pay attention to the
power of silent thought and meditation. The material act is but the
outward expression of thy thought, and therefore hath it been said that
"the thought of foolishness is si n." Thought is the commencement of
action, and if a chance thought can produce much effect, what cannot fixed
thought do?
18. Therefore as hath already been said, Establish thyself firmly in
the equilibrium of forces, in the centre of the Cross of the Elements, that
Cross from whoses centre the Creative Word issued in the birth of the
dawning Universe.
19. Be thou therefore prompt and active as the Sylphs, but avoid
frivolity and caprice; be energetic and strong like the Salamanders, but
avoid irritability and ferocity; be flexible and attentive to images like
the Undines, but avoid idleness an d changeability; be laborious and
patient like the Gnomes, but avoid grossness and avarice.
20. So shalt thou gradually develop the powers of thy soul, and fit
thyself to command the Spirits of the elements. For wert thou to summon
the Gnomes to pander thine avarice, thou wouldst no longer command them,
but they would command thee. Wo uldst thou abuse the pure beings of the
woods and mountains to fill thy coffers and satisfy thy hunger of Gold?
Wouldst thou debase the Spirits of Living Fire to serve thy wrath and
hatred? Wouldst thou violate the purity of the Souls of the Waters to
pander thy lust of debauchery? Wouldst thou force the Spirits of the
Evening Breeze to minister thy folly and caprice? Know that with such
desires thou canst but attract the Weak, not the Strong, and in that case
the Weak will have power over th ee.
21. In true religion there is no sect, therefore take heed that thou
blaspheme not the name by which another knoweth his God; for if thou do
this thing in Jupiter thou wilt blaspheme YHVH and in Osiris YChShVCh. Ask
and ye shall have! Seek, and ye shall find! Knock, and it shall be opened
unto you!