You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
The Book of The Law Study Group 3.60
Aeon418
This verse seems to say that there is no law higher than the Law of Thelema. There may be various lesser laws, but none of them ranks in importance or ultimate authority with, Do what thou wilt.
The verse number possibly indicates that this may be Thelemic Halakah.
HLKH = 60
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halakha
Compared to the Jewish Tradition the Thelemic equivalent is starkly beautiful in it's directness and simplicity. There are no long lists of laws that cover different situations or eventualities. There is just one that is Universal in scope and application.
The verse number possibly indicates that this may be Thelemic Halakah.
HLKH = 60
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halakha
Compared to the Jewish Tradition the Thelemic equivalent is starkly beautiful in it's directness and simplicity. There are no long lists of laws that cover different situations or eventualities. There is just one that is Universal in scope and application.
I've long thought that this verse marks a change in the Book of the Law. In a way it's an end point. It's like it's the last thing R.H.K. has to say regarding the Law. A final reminder? From this point on the tone of the text changes and begins to wind down.Aleister Crowley said:Again "Do that thou wilt...", the most sublimely austere ethical precept ever uttered, despite its apparent licence, is seen on analysis to be indeed "...the whole of the Law.", the sole and sufficient warrant for human action, the self-evident Code of Righteousness, the identification of Fate with Freewill, and the end of the Civil War in Man's nature by appointing the Canon of Truth, the conformity of things with themselves, to determine his every act. "Do what thou wilt..." is to bid Stars to shine, Vines to bear grapes, Water to seek its level; man is the only being in Nature that has striven to set himself at odds with himself.
ravenest
Do you mean no Law (of any sort or type or philosophy) that is higher than Thelemic law or, in the context or field of Thelemic magical philosophy (or whatever one wants to call it) it is the primal law IN THAT FIELD?This verse seems to say that there is no law higher than the Law of Thelema. There may be various lesser laws, but none of them ranks in importance or ultimate authority with, Do what thou wilt.
Aeon418
Yes. But to be clear my comments refer specifically to what is implied by 'Do what thou wilt.'Do you mean no Law (of any sort or type or philosophy) that is higher than Thelemic law
The final sentence in the Crowley quote above (see previous post) spells it out wonderfully. And that is irrespective of whether you call that principle the Will or something else altogether. A rose by any other name...
ravenest
.... And that is irrespective of whether you call that principle the Will or something else altogether.
Yes, good point. AC himself seems to target a 'further' 'law' ... necessity (sorry for slackness in lack of quote - some poem from Eleusis? ; necessity alone supreme ) but that just seems to be another expression of ... 'that principle' - whatever one calls it.
Aeon418
This quote from Crowley's commentary on a earlier verse (I:51) springs to mind.Yes, good point. AC himself seems to target a 'further' 'law' ... necessity (sorry for slackness in lack of quote - some poem from Eleusis? ; necessity alone supreme ) but that just seems to be another expression of ... 'that principle' - whatever one calls it.
Aleister Crowley said:Every star must calculate it's own orbit. All is Will, and yet all is Necessity. To swerve is ultimately impossible; to seek to swerve is to suffer.
The very next paragraph of the commentary is practically a specific case of the 'general principle' in the current verse (III:60). The example used here is that old favourite, Sex. There's probably no other subject in existence that has had more laws, taboo, and restriction built up around it, so it makes a good example.
Aleister Crowley said:The Beast 666 ordains by His authority that every man, and every woman, and every intermediately-sexed individual, shall be absolutely free to interpret and communicate Self by means of any sexual practices soever, whether direct or indirect, rational or symbolic, physiologically, legally, ethically, or religiously approved or no, provided only that all parties to any act are fully aware of all the implications and responsibilities thereof, and heartily agree thereto.
