68 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
68 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
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BAPHOMET XIø
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This is the Word of Baphomet
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to All Members of the O.T.O.
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VELHMA
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This memorandum or epistle is evidently Baphomet XIø's first step
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towards ``thelemicizing'' the rituals of the O.T.O.--internal evidence
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shows that the rituals he refers to are the original unrevised Rite.
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It is also his first attempt to institute the custom of exchanging the
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Law on social occasions, which has since become abbreviated to the
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familiar ``93!''. Baphomet himself held tenaciously to the literal
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form. Although this is an early document and superseded in some minor
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technical points by his later work, it nevertheless stands as an
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instructive paper. 93!--H.B.
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IN OPENING LODGE in any grade, the R.W.M. as he opens the book will
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say: ``Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.'' In closing
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the second officer will say this before saying: ``I declare the Lodge
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closed accordingly.''
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In greeting any other person, even a stranger, this may and should be
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said, e.g. ``Pleased to make your acquaintance. Do what etc.'' If the
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person is one of us, let him reply: ``Love is the law, love under
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will.'' This should be the regular morning greeting in a household:
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also at Good-night. It is not obligatory, though it is desirable to
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make it a habit. It may be omitted to a superior, if you are afraid
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(but why should a King have a superior or be afraid?) that he will
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think you mad. All letters, especially official O.T.O. or A...A...
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letters should open with that sentence.
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In conferring a grade, at the obligation, say: ``Do what thou wilt
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etc. I will and do declare you a man and a `Brother''' or whatever it
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is. Also, closing, after F. F. F. all add ``The word of the Law is
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Thelema.'' The phrase should also be employed on all solemn occasions
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of consent. This I have used in accepting a pupil: ``Do what etc., I,
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so and so, will and do take thee, so and so, for my son (or
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daughter).'' He or she replies in the same terms using ``Father''
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instead of ``son.''
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Repeat this for ``brother'' and ``sister.'' Repeat again for
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``friend'' and ``friend.'' (You can raise the pupil, who is kneeling,
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at this, by the hand. Embrace for ``brother'' and kiss for
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``friend.'') All this preaching is of supreme A...A... importance.
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Observe that to revolutionize the world, as I am now about to do, one
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must not worry over individuals or details. One must take some very
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simple, very deep word, which cuts at the heart of things. The Buddha
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did not attack caste and so on; he just said ``Anatta'' and Hinduism
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crumbled at the touch. So Mohammed said ``Allahu achad'' and upset the
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whole show. I say VELHMA. Go on, therefore, preaching this and nothing
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else, in season and out of season. You won't have to wait long for
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results. You must however be ready to explain that it does not mean
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surrendering to every whim, but the reverse. It involves finding out
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Who you are, and why you came into this world, and never swerving a
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hair's breadth from that Will. It's Ekagata plus Gnana, more or less.
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But simpler.
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