Word of the Law

(Revision as of 04:14, 22 Oct 2009)

θελημα

• The word of the Law is θελημα (AL I:39)

The Word of the Law

The Book of the Law says that "The word of the Law is θελημα" (AL I:39) shortly before proclaiming the Law as "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40) and then adding for consideration that "Love is the Law, love under will."(AL I:57). Also, the phrase "pure will" is given and is said to be in "every way perfect." (AL I:44)

Translation

It is well established that θελημα, thelema means "will". However, it is worthy to note there are other Greek words that cold have been used in place of thelema which, at least apparently, would have been equally valid. In the Greek language, there are a number of words such as thelisis, thelisi, boylisis are a few that are perfectly valid transliterations of the English word "will", even is such phrases as "It is by the force of her will that I she shall persevere!", "It is not what she wants, but it is what she truly wills.", and "It is the King's Will".

However, by arbitrary selection or by design (human or preternatural), these other words are not used in The Book of the Law, a Class A document (considered to be the most sacred of the Holy Books of Thelema and not to be changed, even to the letter) nor do they seem to be used in Thelema at all, whatever the document's class.