"Plus, we can look back one day and say: at least we were part of an exciting adventure. An adventure that goes beyond just trying out all those attractions the world has to offer. And that’s cool."
I think the park/adventure analogy is really to the point and offers us some relief, in the sense of not having an obligation to figure out and solve all problems around us and releasing us from nurturing expectations and assumptions that won't help us in the long run. To sum up, we really have a choice upon the matter, and we are learning each day how to best act based on our knowledge and our choices.
Thank you for the insightful comment. And yes, I think it's about doing one's best, without too much expectations, and trusting that not only this brings its own reward, but maybe will have a subtle but powerful effect.
I totally agree. I think this is a good summation of the Western magical tradition, know thyself, embrace this world and maximize one's potential, so that life and this world can eventually be given up. Many people who do not truly live are then filled with fear when they die. The adept knows it is merely a transition.
That''s one of the issues I have had with Gnosticism generally, but also Christianity and some Eastern traditions, the renunciation of this world while you are in it. That seems to set up the abuse of it, and the people in it. I would rather embrace the world and the people in it.
Yes, it seems some of the Gnostics really went overboard with the renunciation. I mean, it isn't wrong, but it's both subtle and not the whole truth. Sometimes one or the other (renunciation or embracing all worldly things) needs to be emphasized more. Probably also depends on the times.
At the end of the day, I think Paul put it well with his "live according to the spirit, not according to the flesh", which does not imply giving up on the world and mundane worldly things, but interact with them in a new light, according to higher principles.
Agreed, though it seems like a balancing act on a tightrope: being able to recognize and use the good in the world while avoiding the bad, but without being mastered by it or becoming so consumed by desire for the good things and fear of the bad things, that you lose sight completely of any greater good that may be possible within a larger context. Of course, it seems temptingly simpler to just label it all bad and shun it entirely, or to label the bigger context all a bunch of superstitious nonsense meant to distract us from the good in this world (which some bad religious ideas actually are) and just categorically reject any such possibilities. But neither of those extremes is ultimately worthwhile. Somehow, the difficult middle way must be followed, even if there's no clear path or ready-made map of the terrain, but just a bunch of fellow seekers trying to find their way in the darkness and comparing notes using arcane terms that are practically impossible to define clearly.
It also depends on the individual personalities and inclinations: some people who are prone to "spiritual" and irrational "magical" thinking need to learn how to think *less* in such terms. Others need to learn to embrace the worldly things, because they shut out the world out of fear or discomfort, justifying it with religious concepts. Still others need to learn to think *more* along spiritual or esoteric lines because they may be stuck in worldly things and suffer for it.
Ideally, we develop to the point where it becomes natural to discern all these things in our own context and to apply it in everything we do and encounter.
There seems no upper or lower limit on imagination, as Luc suggests, and that can be a trap either way. At the same time, imagination is key to understanding in magic, it being suggested that the imagination is as real as existence, but mastery is what you do with it. Imagination, will and intention for taking from that "astral" realm, the creative energy from the source, and making gold with it.
"Plus, we can look back one day and say: at least we were part of an exciting adventure. An adventure that goes beyond just trying out all those attractions the world has to offer. And that’s cool."
I think the park/adventure analogy is really to the point and offers us some relief, in the sense of not having an obligation to figure out and solve all problems around us and releasing us from nurturing expectations and assumptions that won't help us in the long run. To sum up, we really have a choice upon the matter, and we are learning each day how to best act based on our knowledge and our choices.
Thank you for one more inspiring essay!
Thank you for the insightful comment. And yes, I think it's about doing one's best, without too much expectations, and trusting that not only this brings its own reward, but maybe will have a subtle but powerful effect.
I totally agree. I think this is a good summation of the Western magical tradition, know thyself, embrace this world and maximize one's potential, so that life and this world can eventually be given up. Many people who do not truly live are then filled with fear when they die. The adept knows it is merely a transition.
That''s one of the issues I have had with Gnosticism generally, but also Christianity and some Eastern traditions, the renunciation of this world while you are in it. That seems to set up the abuse of it, and the people in it. I would rather embrace the world and the people in it.
Yes, it seems some of the Gnostics really went overboard with the renunciation. I mean, it isn't wrong, but it's both subtle and not the whole truth. Sometimes one or the other (renunciation or embracing all worldly things) needs to be emphasized more. Probably also depends on the times.
At the end of the day, I think Paul put it well with his "live according to the spirit, not according to the flesh", which does not imply giving up on the world and mundane worldly things, but interact with them in a new light, according to higher principles.
Agreed, though it seems like a balancing act on a tightrope: being able to recognize and use the good in the world while avoiding the bad, but without being mastered by it or becoming so consumed by desire for the good things and fear of the bad things, that you lose sight completely of any greater good that may be possible within a larger context. Of course, it seems temptingly simpler to just label it all bad and shun it entirely, or to label the bigger context all a bunch of superstitious nonsense meant to distract us from the good in this world (which some bad religious ideas actually are) and just categorically reject any such possibilities. But neither of those extremes is ultimately worthwhile. Somehow, the difficult middle way must be followed, even if there's no clear path or ready-made map of the terrain, but just a bunch of fellow seekers trying to find their way in the darkness and comparing notes using arcane terms that are practically impossible to define clearly.
Extremely well said, Daniel.
It also depends on the individual personalities and inclinations: some people who are prone to "spiritual" and irrational "magical" thinking need to learn how to think *less* in such terms. Others need to learn to embrace the worldly things, because they shut out the world out of fear or discomfort, justifying it with religious concepts. Still others need to learn to think *more* along spiritual or esoteric lines because they may be stuck in worldly things and suffer for it.
Ideally, we develop to the point where it becomes natural to discern all these things in our own context and to apply it in everything we do and encounter.
There seems no upper or lower limit on imagination, as Luc suggests, and that can be a trap either way. At the same time, imagination is key to understanding in magic, it being suggested that the imagination is as real as existence, but mastery is what you do with it. Imagination, will and intention for taking from that "astral" realm, the creative energy from the source, and making gold with it.
The need to have meaning is for those for whom happiness is not enough. It's like some goddam curse that affects some of us.
It seems to me that you should quite literally lighten up, and/or broaden your religious cultural and philosophical sources/horizons.
Check out these two authors for example. The first one is easily the most interesting scholar working in the field of religion and culture.
http://www.jeffreykripal.com/body-of-work
http://ervinlaszlobooks.com
Whoops - the first reference should be http://www.jeffreyjkripal.com/body-of-work