Sauwelios
I have invented a new interpretation of the Tree of Life. As it presupposes basic knowledge of the three gunas [modes of nature] of Hindu philosophy, I will quote Krishna on them. In fact, these quotes may be a good introduction to my new interpretation, as their subject matter has been the key, as it were, that opened my mind to it.
"SATTVA, RAJAS, TAMAS - light, fire, and darkness - are the three constituents of nature. They appear to limit in finite bodies the liberty of their infinite Spirit.*"
[The Bhagavad Gita, book 14, mantra 5, translation Mascaro.]
Translator's note: "* SATTVA, RAJAS, and TAMAS are the three 'Gunas', or the three 'strands' which, intertwined, are both the constituents and the changing conditions of nature. They are the light and harmony of pure intelligence and goodness; the fire and desire of impure mental energy and restless passion; and the darkness of dullness and inertia. Until final freedom is attained, they are clouds of matter darkening the Sun of the Spirit."
In my interpretation, which combines Hindu philosophy with Crowley's philosophy of the Qabalah, the "attainment" of this "final freedom" amounts to the attainment of Understanding, the initiate's reaching Binah, the 3rd Sephira, - to the crossing of the Abyss. I have always been suspicious as to the overwhelming, Apocalyptic qualities of the change of consciousness occurring to the initiate at this point, as imagined by some. To me, to the contrary, it seemed that this change - Apocalypse simply means 'revelation' - would rather be very subtle, a slight change, a shifting over the gravity point that, in a manner of speaking, could be a movement of less than an inch.
To Be Continued
"SATTVA, RAJAS, TAMAS - light, fire, and darkness - are the three constituents of nature. They appear to limit in finite bodies the liberty of their infinite Spirit.*"
[The Bhagavad Gita, book 14, mantra 5, translation Mascaro.]
Translator's note: "* SATTVA, RAJAS, and TAMAS are the three 'Gunas', or the three 'strands' which, intertwined, are both the constituents and the changing conditions of nature. They are the light and harmony of pure intelligence and goodness; the fire and desire of impure mental energy and restless passion; and the darkness of dullness and inertia. Until final freedom is attained, they are clouds of matter darkening the Sun of the Spirit."
In my interpretation, which combines Hindu philosophy with Crowley's philosophy of the Qabalah, the "attainment" of this "final freedom" amounts to the attainment of Understanding, the initiate's reaching Binah, the 3rd Sephira, - to the crossing of the Abyss. I have always been suspicious as to the overwhelming, Apocalyptic qualities of the change of consciousness occurring to the initiate at this point, as imagined by some. To me, to the contrary, it seemed that this change - Apocalypse simply means 'revelation' - would rather be very subtle, a slight change, a shifting over the gravity point that, in a manner of speaking, could be a movement of less than an inch.
To Be Continued