Law of Thelema
(Revision as of 06:00, 20 Oct 2009)
Categories: Αγαπη | θελημα | Thelema | Love | The Law of Liberty
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." (AL I:40)
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The Word of the Law
"The Word of the Law is θελημα" (AL I:39)
θελημα (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/93), Thelema means will.
The word of the Law is Thelema or will. It is essential to understand that in Thelema, the concept of will is used in a much more specified sense than how the word is normally used in general society. In Thelema, the word will pertains to something very specific and of the greatest importance. It is not about wants, whims, desires or wishes, but rather something singular and pure. Though the phrase does not appear in the Book of the Law, in Thelema, the phrase True Will serves to make clear this distinction between the concept and importance of Will in Thelema and the more general sense of will as it is commonly understood and used in general context.
θελημα, Thelema
θελημα is one of a number of Greek words that translates into English as the word "will". This exact Greek word (to the exclusion of the other candidates in Greek) seems to have intentionally been given as the Word of the Law in Book of the Law because only this word in Greek numerology or Isopsephy yields a value of 93 which seems highly significant when one considers that Αγαπη - agape, the Greek word for a transcendent love (as opposed to eros, a sexual love) shares the same numeric value. In Isopsephy and indeed in Thelema this indicates that the two ideas θελημα, Thelema and Αγαπη, agape share the same essence or nature.
Will, Not Whim
Setting aside The Book of the Law, it is made abundantly clear in various writings by Crowley and other Thelemic authors that the Law of Thelema is by no means an advocacy for "doing whatever you want" - as if this would be the inevitable reaction to the lack of moral authority and enforcement in the age where Nietzsche tells us God is dead.
Adherence to the Law of Thelema - "Do what thou wilt" - actually requires a commitment to strict personal integrity, effort and discipline, that of finding and living one's True Will. This can be understood deeper by consulting the section on True Will.
"thou hast no right but to do thy will." (AL I:42)
"From these considerations it should be clear that “Do what thou wilt” does not mean “Do what you like.” It is the apotheosis of Freedom; but it is also the strictest possible bond.
Do what thou wilt—then do nothing else. Let nothing deflect thee from that austere and holy task. Liberty is absolute to do thy will; but seek to do any other thing whatever, and instantly obstacles must arise. Every act that is not in definite course of that one orbit is erratic, an hindrance. Will must not be two, but one." - Liber II : The Message of the Master Therion.
The Word of the Law
"The Word of the Law is θελημα" (AL I:39)
θελημα is one of a number of Greek words that translates into English as the word "will". This exact Greek word (to the exclusion of the other candidates in Greek) seems to have intentionally been given as the Word of the Law in Book of the Law because only this word in Greek numerology or Isopsephy yields a value of 93 which seems highly significant when one considers that Αγαπη - agape, the Greek word for a transcendent love (as opposed to eros, a sexual love) shares the same numeric value. In Isopsephy and indeed in Thelema this indicates that the two ideas θελημα, Thelema and Αγαπη, agape share the same essence or nature.
The Nature of the Law
"Love (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/93) is the law, love under will (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/93)." (AL I:57)
"Herein is an Arcanum concealed, for in the Greek language Αγαπη, love, is of the same numerical value as θελημα, Will. By this we understand that the Universal Will is of the nature of Love." Liber CL De Lege Libellum (http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib150.html)
This numerical value in Isopsephy (Greek numerology) is 93.
Also, consider that in Thelema, a magus utters the word of his aeon and as the Logos of the Aeon is the word; in the case of the Master Therion (Aleister Crowley as a Magus) that word is θελημα, Will. (see Liber II : The Message of the Master Therion (http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/lib2.htm) )
I conjunction, consider Liber I : The Book of the Magus (http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/lib1.htm) where the Master Therion utters, "And the Magus is Love".
It follows that if the Magus is Thelema (Will) and is the Magus is Agape (Love) then in essence the nature of the Law is Love.
References
- Crowley, Aleister. (1997). The Book of the Law [Liber AL vel Legis]. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
- Crowley, Aleister. (1919). The Law of Liberty [Liber CL לענ De Lege Libellum] in (1991) The Equinox III 10. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
- Crowley, Aleister. Liber I : The Book of the Magus (http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/lib1.htm)
- Crowley, Aleister. Liber II : The Message of the Mater Therion (http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/lib2.htm)
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