"In conclusion to this part..."
April 22, 2017
G.D.O'Bradovich III
“Ask and it will be given.”
The Master
The Master
1
To seek means to search and one does not search for what one possesses, but for what one lacks. Without additional information, we cannot state that what one lacks one should possess, we can only say that the seeker seeks, the searcher searches, and the Occultist occults. Master of the Occult Arts and Sciences cum Master of Stating the Obvious.
The novice in The Wonderful World of Occult Research™ always believes that the end or purpose of study is certainty and this opinion is not without reason and merit, for it reasonably follows that the more facts that one possesses the nearer one approaches to certainty or a type of knowledge. However, long and painful experiences has shown this Great Occultist that this premise is ultimately flawed and, as a consequence, the conclusions, false. At a certain point in the Great Work, oftentimes during a moment of dark imaginings, doubt enters and one questions whether certainty as the end is possible. We cannot unambiguously assign this terrible revelation to Beaky, although we would be incredulous to learn that he did not play his assigned role.
Perhaps we have always known or felt that few things are certain, are knowable to man as man, and, as the body betrays the mind, this feeling is aptly demonstrated by our life-long skepticism of various claims touching upon certainty, regardless whether these claims originate from such groups as varied as Occultists or fundamentalist Christians.
The experienced Occult researcher knows that certainty is applicable to a handful of subjects. We may say that our Occult knowledge, or our wisdom, so called, exceeds political and religious knowledge by a factor of two, if one considers death and taxes as certainties.
The opinion that the acquisition of additional facts is synonymous with approaching certainty or truth is similar to aiming, not at a moving target, but an ever moving target, a mirage, a utopia never to be reached. The carefree student of the Occult, by not questioning himself, his premises, his motives, and his conclusions, will never leave the labyrinth of forever seeking, always learning, but never coming to the truth.
The world of opinions, of shadows, offers comfort in the assured promise of undeniable certainty, hence the appeal to humanity. We may say that a Master of the Occult must relish residing in knowledge, in himself, and living in uncertainty, in the world, not the world of Nature, but of man; mere mortals cannot face this dual existence and live. The Old Testament (Exodus 33: 20-23) explicitly states that Moses, the provider of civil law, morality, and religious customs, cannot see the face of God and live, although once Moses is placed in an elevated position, he can see an aspect of God that, for matters of our taste, we omit. We now know why certain dangerous topics overflow both with opinions and certainty. The pairing falsehoods and absolutes, or truths, will not be lost on the Gentle Reader. Clearly, the love of wisdom must be a type of woman, always enticing, but never satisfying the appetite of a longing embrace.
The true philosopher is a hermit, a child of Nature, while the practical philosopher, by definition, must apply, or practice, his insights regarding the condition of man. Therefore, the philosophical application must manifest itself either as political guidance, towards the stability of the city, or instruction, regarding the education of youths. It is obvious that the application of philosophy in Nature is pointless, nay impossible; hence, we understand the reason Plato wrote that the best philosophers are worthless, although philosophy retains her dignity. To find a non practicing philosopher in the city would be impossible; just as he is driven by his nature to contemplate, so is he compelled, when in the presence of others, to ask, to inquire. Yet again, behavior betrays the mind. We correctly regard the discovery of truth from opinions, the one resulting from many, as both unexpected and paradoxical. I now know that the light comes from the darkness.
The Gentle Researcher will appreciate, as few readers can, the ultimate irony for those individuals possessed of old by the spirit of ceaseless inquiry- only to realize an old adage, “Careful what you wish for”, and an ancient truth, “Seek and you will find”, which are two views of the same subject, where our subject, when correctly understood, has a front side and back parts.
The novice in The Wonderful World of Occult Research™ always believes that the end or purpose of study is certainty and this opinion is not without reason and merit, for it reasonably follows that the more facts that one possesses the nearer one approaches to certainty or a type of knowledge. However, long and painful experiences has shown this Great Occultist that this premise is ultimately flawed and, as a consequence, the conclusions, false. At a certain point in the Great Work, oftentimes during a moment of dark imaginings, doubt enters and one questions whether certainty as the end is possible. We cannot unambiguously assign this terrible revelation to Beaky, although we would be incredulous to learn that he did not play his assigned role.
Perhaps we have always known or felt that few things are certain, are knowable to man as man, and, as the body betrays the mind, this feeling is aptly demonstrated by our life-long skepticism of various claims touching upon certainty, regardless whether these claims originate from such groups as varied as Occultists or fundamentalist Christians.
The experienced Occult researcher knows that certainty is applicable to a handful of subjects. We may say that our Occult knowledge, or our wisdom, so called, exceeds political and religious knowledge by a factor of two, if one considers death and taxes as certainties.
The opinion that the acquisition of additional facts is synonymous with approaching certainty or truth is similar to aiming, not at a moving target, but an ever moving target, a mirage, a utopia never to be reached. The carefree student of the Occult, by not questioning himself, his premises, his motives, and his conclusions, will never leave the labyrinth of forever seeking, always learning, but never coming to the truth.
The world of opinions, of shadows, offers comfort in the assured promise of undeniable certainty, hence the appeal to humanity. We may say that a Master of the Occult must relish residing in knowledge, in himself, and living in uncertainty, in the world, not the world of Nature, but of man; mere mortals cannot face this dual existence and live. The Old Testament (Exodus 33: 20-23) explicitly states that Moses, the provider of civil law, morality, and religious customs, cannot see the face of God and live, although once Moses is placed in an elevated position, he can see an aspect of God that, for matters of our taste, we omit. We now know why certain dangerous topics overflow both with opinions and certainty. The pairing falsehoods and absolutes, or truths, will not be lost on the Gentle Reader. Clearly, the love of wisdom must be a type of woman, always enticing, but never satisfying the appetite of a longing embrace.
The true philosopher is a hermit, a child of Nature, while the practical philosopher, by definition, must apply, or practice, his insights regarding the condition of man. Therefore, the philosophical application must manifest itself either as political guidance, towards the stability of the city, or instruction, regarding the education of youths. It is obvious that the application of philosophy in Nature is pointless, nay impossible; hence, we understand the reason Plato wrote that the best philosophers are worthless, although philosophy retains her dignity. To find a non practicing philosopher in the city would be impossible; just as he is driven by his nature to contemplate, so is he compelled, when in the presence of others, to ask, to inquire. Yet again, behavior betrays the mind. We correctly regard the discovery of truth from opinions, the one resulting from many, as both unexpected and paradoxical. I now know that the light comes from the darkness.
The Gentle Researcher will appreciate, as few readers can, the ultimate irony for those individuals possessed of old by the spirit of ceaseless inquiry- only to realize an old adage, “Careful what you wish for”, and an ancient truth, “Seek and you will find”, which are two views of the same subject, where our subject, when correctly understood, has a front side and back parts.