The Book of the Law

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:93 The Book of the Law (ISBN 0877283346), also known as Liber AL vel Legis, is the text central to a philosophical / magical / religious practice called Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley.

1 History
2 The Comment of Ankh F N Khonsu
- 2.1 The text
- 2.2 Notes
3 See also
4 External links

[edit]

History

Crowley penned the book in three sessions between 12 noon and 1 pm on April 8, 9 and 10, 1904 in Cairo, resulting in three distinct chapters. He reports writing the book by dictation from a voice that seemed to come from over his shoulder and called itself Aiwass (or Aiwaz). He also reports having the impression or picture of a speaker in the corner behind him, looking "transparent as a veil of gauze," but otherwise like a tall, dark man with his eyes veiled (so as not to destroy what he looked upon). At the time, he says, he considered the figure "an 'angel' such as he had often seen in visions, a being purely astral." (By this he probably meant an experience of questionable value; in his book on astral visions, so-called, he warns students of occult phenomena "against attributing objective reality or philosophical validity to any of them.") He was later to change this view substantially.

Crowley also makes it very clear that it was not automatic writing, but that the experience seemed exactly like an actual voice speaking to him. This is evidenced by several errors that the scribe actually had to enquire about. He does admit to the possibility that Aiwass was a manifestation of his own subconscious. But even were this so, he claimed that the message imparted by Aiwass was so beyond human experience or knowledge that it necessitated a praeternatural intelligence that only a higher order of being could possess.

Interpretation of this book is considered a matter for the individual, and openly promoting personal ideas about its meaning is strongly discouraged. Although Crowley expressed the desire to see the Law of Thelema promulgated in all areas of society, success in this endeavour is to be based on others willfully following the good example of Thelemites rather than by evangelization or direct attempts to convert others. "Success is thy proof: argue not; convert not; talk not overmuch!" (AL III:42)

[edit]

The Comment of Ankh F N Khonsu

Years later, Crowley added The Comment, and signed it as Ankh F N Khonsu (meaning: 'He Lives in Khonsu'—an historical priest who lived in Thebes in the 26th dynasty). It advises the reader against the 'study' of the book and forbids discussion of its contents. Most modern Thelemites ignore the warnings regarding the study of Liber Legis, while the practice of keeping opinions about the book to onesself has become a hallmark of that culture. The result is the idea that interpretation of this often cryptic book is a responsibility for the reader alone.

This is more commonly just called The Comment. Although it distinctly applies to Liber AL vel Legis some have understood it to apply to The Holy Books of Thelema.

[edit]

The text

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The study of this Book is forbidden. It is wise to destroy this copy after the first reading.

Whosever disregards this does so at his own risk and peril. These are most dire.

Those who discuss the contents of this Book are to be shunned by all, as centres of pestilence.

All questions of the Law are to be decided only by appeal to my writings, each for himself.

There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.

Love is the law, love under will.

The priest of the princes,

Ank-F-N-Khonsu

[edit]

Notes

This prohibition is usually understood to prohibit public discussion of what one finds in The Holy Books of Thelema. The theory is that private study of these books is the only way to answer All questions of the Law are to be decided only by appeal to my writings, each for himself. The stumbling block is line one: The study of this Book is forbidden. Zoso

[edit]