Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00736)

The following introductory advice is given to students who
would develop any form of psychism or practice spiritual
exercises or techniques:

	"In this book it is spoken of the Sephiroth and the Paths;
of Spirits and Conjurations; of Gods, Spheres, Planes, and many
other things which may or may not exist.
	It is immaterial whether these exist or not.  By doing
certain things certain results will follow; students are most
earnestly warned against attributing objective reality or
philosophic validity to any of them.
	The advantages to be gained from them are chiefly
these:
	(a) A widening of the horizon of the mind.
	(b) An improvement of the control of the mind.
	The student, if he attains any success in the following
practices, will find himself confronted by things (ideas or beings)
too glorious or too dreadful to be described.  It is essential that
he remain the master of all that he beholds, hears or conceives;
otherwise he will be the slave of illusion, and the prey of
madness.  Before entering any of these practices, the student
should be in good health, and have attained a fair mastery of
asana, pranayama, and dharana.
	There is little danger that any student, however idle or
stupid, will fail to get some result; but there is great danger that he
will be led astray, obsessed and overwhelmed by his results,
even though it be those which it is necessary that he should attain.
Too often, moreover, he mistaketh the first resting-place for the
goal, and taketh off his armour as if he were a victor ere the fight
is well begun.  It is desirable that the student should never attach to
any result the importance which it at first seems to possess."

	Although the above quote could have been written
by a theosophist, it was taken from Aleister Crowley's Liber O.
Even AC recognized the real dangers of psychism, and provided
suitable warnings.

	Jerry S.
	Member, TI