luke wilson said:Ok, thanks Approaching Infinity. I'll give it a second go, best I can...
AI said:What is a "law"
A law is like a rule that appears unbreakable and in someway there is a sense of 'marriage' involved where we are bound to it and maybe it to us.. How does a law get to be a Law? I dont know!!! Because God says so(?) :D
How is it general?
Because it applies to everything within its allocated scope and not lets just say, a single person.
AI said:What effects does this law have on people and things?
People dont have a choice, or very little choice to act against the rule which has now become Law. So in the case of the general Law, people act like 2D animals, only this time they have brains and self-awareness..
AI said:What are its main features?
I would say in this case, its main feature as it has undisputed authority in the animal kingdom is, animalistic sexual energy with all that entails, aggression, passion etc etc. That is why the animal kingdom(2D) is the way it is and somehow that law has invaded into our world. The world of men. But we know there are 2 types of men. Ones with no soul and ones with. Does it act the same on both of them? I dont know but I would say it has undisputed authority on ones without a soul and leaves the others in a state of perpetual inner conflict because they are literally stuck between 2 worlds. The animal world and the one above that...
Please tell me I am not just performing mental masturbation here(I can take it if I am, hit me with the cold hard truth)... I've really thought about what you said AI and this is what I have come up with.
Well, if you are, it's not a big deal! Just something to be aware of. I think what you've written is helpful so far. Let's see what Mouravieff had to say:
The ensemble of 'A' influences forms the Law of Chance or Law
of Accident. Man is subject to its rule, yet if we examine the figure
more closely we will perceive that each black arrow is
counterbalanced, neutralized in some other part by another arrow equal
in force and diametrically opposed, so that if we had left them to effectively
neutralize each other the resultant force would have been equal to zero. This
means that in their ensemble the 'A' influences are illusory in their nature,
although the effect of each one of them is real, so that exterior man takes
them for reality. The white circle represents the esoteric Centre, located
outside the general laws of life.
From this point of view, let us examine the lot of a cell in our bodies. It is
subject to two categories of laws. To simplify, let us say that it is placed
under the rule of two laws.
The first keeps the cell in its place. In esoteric science we call it the General
Law. The second leaves a certain liberty of action for the cell, and is called
the Law of Exception.
The first law, which is conservative, ensures that the organ of which this
cell is a part accomplishes its function with no impediment. To this end,
the first condition is that during their lives the cells which compose the
organ fulfil the role given them. This law obliges these cells to remain in
their own places, to complete their work, and to dedicate their lives to it.
It is evident that if this law did not keep the cells of the body within the
limits of each organ, if it did not oblige them to fulfil their function, the
latter would not be able to exist. Thus this law is beneficial; by ensuring the
existence of the organs, it permits the whole body to endure.
We know, however, that the total removal of certain organs of the body
is compatible with survival. In the current state of our knowledge it even
seems that removal of some of them leads to no serious functional incon-
venience. Even more; the organism tolerates partial resection of some
organs without compromising the roles played by the latter in the general
economy. This shows that the disappearance of a few cells, an infinitesimal
part of an organ, goes unnoticed: its functioning is not impaired. As the
essential role of the General Law is to watch over continuity of function,
this disappearance passes unnoticed by it. Therefore it places no further
obstacles. Symbolically, one can say that cells which escape from this law
now enter the domain of the Law of Exception.
This escape of a few cells is a phenomenon which occurs constantly. All
our cells from the epidermic to the nervous are constantly renewed ac-
cording to different and variable rhythms. In addition to this renewal from
within, there are also disappearances, compensated or not compensated
for by new units.
Up to this point, the analogy with what happens to man because of the
General Law and the Law of Exception could be taken as complete.
But it stops here, at least as regards the present state of our knowledge. In
this activity of life, of migrations and of cellular death, there is no justi-
fication for thinking that the passage from the General Law to the Law of
Exception results from any conscious actions of the cells.
For man it happens differently.
As a cell of humanity, man forms part of organic life on Earth. This life
in its ensemble represents a very sensitive organ of our planet, playing an
important role in the economy of the solar system. As a cell of this organ,
man finds himself under the influence of the General Law, which keeps him
in his place. In fact, this law leaves him a certain margin or tolerance. It
allows him some free movement within the limits it sets. Within these boun-
daries, which are very limited objectively although subjectively they ap-
pear vast, man can give free rein to his fantasies and his ambitions. Without
going too far into the definition of these limits and detailed description of
the components of this General Law, we can say as an example that one of
those factors is hunger: the servitude of working to assure our subsistence.
The chain: sexual instinct; procreation; and the care of parents for their
children, is another factor. The esoteric maxim that applies to this aspect of
life is conceived thus: carnal love is necessary for the general good. Lastly, fear in
its many forms constitutes the third group of factors in question. On the
whole, the permitted margin for free movement tolerated by the General Law
is limited by something best described in a term less scientific than colour-
ful: bourgeois happiness. Careers in every branch of human activity; for-
tune; family; love; honours etc.; all are subject to the sine qua non condition
of unconditional if only subconscious acceptance of the inevitability of
Death.
As long as man accepts the principle of the final annihilation of his
Personality without a fight, he can carry on in life without attracting
the increasing pressure of the General Law upon himself.
The case is totally different if he struggles to surpass the limits which it
imposes. He then runs against the action upon him of this Law and its
derivatives. It acts simultaneously on several planes: physical, mental and
moral. Its action on the moral plane is conceived by man, since time
immemorial, in the form of a personification: the Devil.
In the orthodox Tradition demonology occupies a considerable place.
We find there practical constatations, fine and profound observations on
the highly sophisticated and insidious forms that the Devil's action takes in
very varied circumstances, in which it goes as far as using the good faith of
humans for its own ends.
We will also find precious advice, based on accumulated experience over
the ages, which is particularly helpful to students of esoteric science;
because once the first positive results are obtained those students will
unmistakably run up against the active opposition of the law and the
game of the Crafty One.
It must be realized that in placing himself under the aegis of the Law of
Exception, man goes against the General Law, which he is even called upon
to overthrow, if only on the individual scale. He must not forget — under
penalty of 'surprise attack' — that salvation depends on victory over the
Devil, which as we have said, is the personalized moral aspect of the General
Law. This is so even though this, being a cosmic law, is naturally a divine
law. One must not be afraid, as the Law of Exception is also a divine law: in
choosing it, man continues to serve the interest of the whole, but differ-
ently and in an incomparably more efficient manner. During his fight
against the first law, he is subject to tests that often take the form of
temptations. In orthodox Doctrine deep studies are devoted to this theme.
As stated above, they contain precious advice of a practical nature, details
of which we cannot cover in this present work. We are however permitted
to draw attention to the indirect nature of diabolical action. If, aiming
straight towards his goal, which is liberation and salvation, the seeker
successfully overcomes the obstacles and by this shows proof of a strength
that would permit him to defy the authority of the General Law, the latter
will begin to act upon him indirectly, generally by the mediation of his near
ones if they do not follow the same path: this action occurs on the moral
plane, and often takes emotional forms appealing to his most noble, gen-
erous and disinterested sentiments: to his charity; his obligations; his pity.
It impels him down blind alleys, insinuating that he will thus be returning
to his duty, that by so doing he will go on walking in the right path, etc.
This will clarify the profound saying of Jesus that: 'A man's worst enemies are
those of his own household.'
He who
studies esoteric science must not naively oppose 'A' influences. That would
only succeed in bringing catastrophe. This was Don Quixote's instructive
experience —so wrongly understood. 'A' influences play a positive role in
the economy of the Universe. They combine with devastating force to
oppose anyone who tries to attack them directly in their ensemble. The
task of the seeker is different. Instead of trying to annihilate the 'A' influ-
ences, or to carve out a path between them for himself by his exploits,
while continuing his esoteric education, he should instead escape their
grasp.
It is important to understand that we can never attain this goal by our
own forces. It is by absorbing 'B' influences — divine influences from a
higher level, which are consequently more powerful—and by putting full
trust in them, as well as by giving proofs of capacity and devotion, that we
shall be liberated from the dominion of these 'A' influences — which are
ruled by the General Law, assisted by the Law of Accident.
He whose efforts are crowned with success—who attains higher levels
of being—is immediately utilized to share in the management and growth
of a given level of the lower forces of the Cosmos.
In general he will have to accomplish — as a mission — a task in the
domain of the 'A' influences. Above all, this work will require study of
the bipolar world. Intelligence is the only tool we possess with which to
achieve this end. This is its real reason for being, as well as the reason why
its structure exactly reflects the world of the A' influences. This instrument
thus allows man, in accordance with Plato's principle, to grasp and know
the similar by the similar.
Knowing this, the student of esoteric science must guard against fall-
ing into the extremes expressed in some teachings; he must neither despise
nor neglect his intellectual faculties. The intelligence must be developed
and sharpened up to the limit of what is possible, and thought must
become sharp as the point of a needle. But it must not be forgotten that
the Personality, in spite of its complex structure and its many abilities, is
nothing but an instrument, whose functioning remains purely mechanical.
It is for this reason that in esoteric matters it does not know, and will
never know anything with certainty. By its nature agnostic, and concerned
with phenomena, it is limited by form and function to three dimensions. It
is incapable of exceeding these boundaries, but sincerely takes the world of
'A' influences as the only reality.
In general, the reaction of those
around towards someone who begins to search for the Way is negative.
This negative attitude is the result of the action of the General Law, which,
as we know, tends to keep man in his place. Not being able to do this
directly by the action of Illusion, the General Law, when it loses its do-
minion over the man who 'moves', acts indirectly by the mediation of those
around him. It is a classic situation. From his side, after having passed
through moral bankruptcy, he who seeks the Way becomes different from
men who continue to live within the limits permitted by the General Law,
and thus take mirages for reality. Due to this, he will feel himself more and
more isolated. The centre of gravity of his interest will progressively turn
to esoteric work, which will end by absorbing him completely. But it is
entirely in his interest not to show the new attitude which he has taken
towards exterior life. The 'World' will be hostile to him, because its own
purposes are different; it is not in his interest to provoke this tendency, and
even less to keep it alive. The day will come — if he remains in the same
milieu — where, apart from rare exceptions he will be openly or secretly
hated. ...
If we ponder this in depth, we shall understand that psychologically this
hostile attitude of the 'World' towards someone who carries on esoteric
work is not only a normal phenomenon but is so to speak, a necessary one.
If he who lives in the wilderness — and is satisfied to be there, were to
approve of the attitude of one who walks on the track, it would be equi-
valent to recognizing his own bankruptcy. That is why the 'World' con-
siders the latter as a failure. The more he progresses with his work, the
more he becomes an object of hate. ...
In the picturesque language of the Tradition, it is said that the beast must
be tamed, and the wolf transformed into a trustworthy guard dog. The
General Law will then have no more power over the individual, who will
come entirely under the aegis of the Law of Exception.
... We repeat: by mastering the 'A' influences within
his interior world, he will escape the action of these same influences
coming from the exterior world, which means he will escape from the
clutches of the General Law.
Those are just from the first half of book on Gnosis. There are a lot more! What are your thoughts after re-reading those quotes?
