"For, if one may speak of the Order as having a specific purpose, then that sublime motive is to bring each man to the perfection is his own Kether, to the glory of his own higher Genius, to the splendour of the Golden Dawn arising within the heart of his soul. And its technique is always encompassed through the uplifting of the heart and mind by a therugic invocation to Isis-Urania, the symbolic personification of the Sephiroth of the Supernal Light."- The Three Chiefs, by Frater A.M.A.G. (Israel Regardie)
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
The Purpose of the Order
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2 comments:
Hello Dean,
Thank you for this reminder about the purpose of the Order, or shall we say now, the ‘tradition’ of the Golden Dawn. I would just like to amplify this quote from Regardie.
Traditionally there were and are two Orders. The purpose of the first Order, the Lower Mysteries, is clearly stated every Equinox: to guide our souls so we may express love towards “God, Man and the Universe”. The purpose of the second, the Greater Mysteries of the RR et AC seems to be clearly stated in the central Tiphareth clause of the obligation of the Adeptus Minor:
“I further promise and swear that with the Divine permission I will, from this day forward, apply myself to the Great Work, which is, to purify and exalt my Spiritual Nature so that with the Divine Aid I may at length attain to be more than human, and thus gradually raise and unite myself to my higher and Divine Genius, and that in this event I will not abuse the great power entrusted to me.”
This is what Regardie refers to in his quote. The first Order is preparatory and aims to develop our love before the magical transformations of the self initiated by the second Order and the deep magic practiced therein. This approach is traditional the world over and can be seen, for example, in the Mahayana Buddhist requirement to develop Bodhicitta (loving kindness to all beings) and purify oneself for years before tantric practice.
We also to take into account the fact that the RR et AC is a Rosicrucian Order and the aims of the Rosicrucian Order are clearly restated in the Adeptus Minor ceremony:
• To heal the sick and for free.
• To adopt the garb and customs of wherever one finds oneself.
• To find and train a worthy successor for the Order upon his death.
• To meet together at least once every year.
• The name Christian Rosencreutz would symbolise their ideals.
The Fama Fraternitatis, where these aims are first mentioned, is an allegorical text and must be read on many levels. We may expand these principles as:
Providing healing and spiritual service to humanity, both on the outer and inner planes, with nothing expected or taken in return.
Keeping silent and anonymous in our spiritual service, so that our egos are less likely to become involved.
Helping to train and induct others so that the service to humanity will continue.
Joining together to share spiritual aspirations, be recharged and essentially be peer-reviewed, helping to ensure we do not wander off on our own ego led tracks.
Continual aspiration towards that state of consciousness symbolised by Christian Rosencruetz.
I hope this gives some people something to ponder. Thanks,
Peregrin :)
Is Isis-Urania-Sephiroth the same as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
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