I would like to dedicate an entire post to Book 77. It is a short piece by Aleister Crowley that simplifies what it is Thelema entitles to the individual. It is said in many of the holy texts of Thelema that it is the Law of ultimate freedom, and of ultimate responsibility. Book 77 gives us a good idea of what is meant by this freedom.
Book 77 starts with a few quotes from Liber Legis(The Book of the Law). "Every man and every woman is a star."(Liber Legis 1:3) This line implies that each person is the center of their own universe, or experience. It also implies an equality between men and women, and that each of us are radiant beacons of divine light traveling through the cosmos on our own path (i.e.- doing our Will). The next line of Book 77 strikes many people as blasphemous, "There is no god but man." This line, although appearing atheistic, implies that we are responsible for our own choices between light and dark. It is also a powerful statement about our place in the hierarchy of living creatures. We are the only living animal, that we know of, on this planet with the capability to conceive "god" or a higher power. It sets us apart from the animal kingdom.
What follows in Book 77 is five short sections about the rights we have as intelligent, self aware creatures.
Section 1 says, "Man has the right to live by his own law-to live in the way that he wills to do: to work as he will: to play as he will: to rest as he will: to die when and how he will."
This may strike some as common sense, and they are right. It gives complete liberty to the individual to choose what is best for his life. This liberty may be taken for granted in this country, but there are many parts of the world where people are enslaved, or where people are forced into belief systems. For instance, sweatshop labor, blood diamonds, human trafficking, et cetera. This section gives the individual absolute control over their lives, and destiny.
Section 2 says, "Man has the right to eat what he will: to drink what he will: to dwell where he will: to move as he will on the face of the earth."
This seems like more common sense, and it is. It implies a complete freedom of sustenance, and of travel, two things that are vital to survival. So, it could be paraphrased as, "Man has the right to sustain his own existence."
Section 3 says, "Man has the right to think what he will: to speak what he will: to write what he will: to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will: to dress as he will:"
This section confirms man's right to free speech, to free thought, to free expression. This is something else that is taken for granted in our country. Even though we have the rights of the first amendment, there are still dictatorships in this world that don't allow any anti-government ideas to be printed, let alone discussed.(i.e.-communism, socialism, etc.) This section also gives man the right to artistic expression, no matter the artistic medium. Whether it's painting, sculpture, music, or poetry, there should be no limitations on subject matter, or content.
Section 4 says, "Man has the right to love as he will" and is supported by a quote from the Book of the Law, "take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where, and with whom ye will."(Liber Legis 1:51)
This gives complete and total freedom of love, of sex, and of family. This is an affirmation of our natural right to choose our loved ones, our lovers, and our benefactors. It can be clearly seen today the need for this kind of thinking, especially in the wake of same-sex marriage debates.
Section 5 says simply, "Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights."
Enslaved people have the right to freedom, even if that means killing those who enslave them. It is your right to eat and to drink, to sustain your body, even if it means killing those who dare to stop you. These examples are a bit extreme, and I am sure I will be misunderstood. But think about nature, if you come between a tiger and his dinner, you probably won't last long. If you come between an elephant and its young, it will kill you. If you put any living creature in a situation where it is either you kill them or they kill you, they will try to kill you out of the survival instinct. I am not saying that murder is justified, but in some cases it is necessary to survive.
In conclusion, there are certain rights every living creature has. Infringing on the will of others is not only a violation of their rights, but a serious misconception of your place in the world. Book 77 gives us a guideline to what it is that we are entitled to, and what everyone else is entitled to as well.
"Man has the right to live in the way that he wills to do...Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights." Or as Crowley has written elsewhere, "Freedom almost always relies upon the sword." Nobody would argue that this slave doesn't have the right to kill those who stand in the way of his freedom.
Love is the Law, Love Under Will.
No comments:
Post a Comment