THE PRELIMINARY LECTION
In the Name of the Initiator, Amen.
In the beginning was Initiation. The flesh profiteth nothing; the mind profiteth nothing; that which is unknown to you and above these, while firmly based upon their equilibrium, giveth life.
In all systems of religion is to be found a system of Initiation, which may be defined as the process by which a man comes to learn that unknown Crown.
Though none can communicate either the knowledge or the power to achieve this, which we may call the Great Work, it is yet possible for initiates to guide others.
Every man must overcome his own obstacles, expose his own illusions. Yet others may assist him to do both, and they may enable him altogether to avoid many of the false paths, leading no whither, which tempt the weary feet of the uninitiated pilgrim. They can further insure that he is duly tried and tested, for there are many who think themselves to be Masters who have not even begun to tread the Way of Service that leads thereto.
Now the Great Work is one, and the Initiation is one, and the Reward is one, however diverse are the symbols wherein the Unutterable is clothed.
Hear then the history of the system which this lection gives you the opportunity of investigating.
Listen, we pray you, with attention: for once only does the Great Order knock at any one door.
Whosoever knows any member of that Order as such, can never know another, until he too has attained to mastery.
Here, therefore, we pause, that you may thoroughly search yourself, and consider if you are yet fitted to take an irrevocable step.
For the reading of that which follows is Recorded.

From the Holy books of Thelema Liber LXI vel Causae.

What follows is a  personal view about the subject. Initiation is a word that one sees/hears often in all kind of mystical and magical communities. However it is used to describe a process that can mean different things. Traditionally the word refers to a new start, a new process, its a process of ‘going’. As far as I see it there are different types of initiations.

• Initiation in daily life. Dealing with daily obstacles.
• Initiation into a group/ community as a new member or as a member that is progressing within this group.
• Initiation into a certain current/ energies (magical/ mystical/ cosmic)
• Initiation as a inner process that brings the individual into a new level of being and consciousness. Dealing with ones ‘inner world’ so to speak.

The last one the development of ones inner process and obtaining a new way of looking at life is the main goal of initiation. The types described before that can cause this inner process to develop but isn’t necessary the case. They all should be one and acting as one. Actually very often this is not the case at all. As long as the ego is in charge and when the individuals aren’t truly initiated this will not happen. This explains the many issues in all kind of groups and orders. When transformed, initiation has taken the right effect. Transformation is a key word so to speak. The raising of the vibration levels.

The crisis that a real initiation causes is often many people don’t understand. A feeling of dispair, confusion etc are natural effects that should be overcome by the candidate. Facing oneself and understand ones shadow is what should be done and what is very difficult for many people.  This real change of ones inner condition also cause a real change in the outer condition and can cause crisis on that level as well. When the person in question is coping with it as it should be he/she will be ‘reborn’  and then initiation really occurred. In the old days an initiate is also called a ‘second born’. The same proces the alchemist is applying to the work he/she does when making alchemical substances. Tinctures for example are going through the same process and inside the alchemist this is happening as well. Alchemical substances are working as an initiator as well when it triggers something in the person one should develop or pays attention to it. Or amplifying certain parts of ones character in a good or a bad way. That is why it is important to be very cautious by taking these substances especially when a certain level of maturity is required.

In many traditions the final initiation is happening at the moment of death. Then one should be applying everything one has learned in the present incarnation in order to evolve on the Path of Return. In that sense death is a real initiator that put ones life in the right perspective like any real initiation does during ones lifetime. It put our priorities straight and learn us how we all are interconnected and part of the same. It shows us the reducibility of matters as power, envy, hate, greed, violence etc etc. These matters only drags us down into a pit that is hard to overcome when not properly cared for. Instead one should use the nobel and high part of oneself to transform death into life. Eternal life where duality as such is dissolved in order to help humanity to progress as a whole.

H.P.B. Blavatsky wrote the following in the Voice of Silence:

The Voice of the Silence by H. P. Blavatsky
FRAGMENT I
THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE
THESE instructions are for those ignorant of the dangers of the lower IDDHI (1).

He who would hear the voice of Nada (2), “the Soundless Sound,” and comprehend it, he has to learn the nature of Dharana (3).

Having become indifferent to objects of perception, the pupil must seek out the rajah of the senses, the Thought-Producer, he who awakes illusion.

The Mind is the great Slayer of the Real.

Let the Disciple slay the Slayer.

For: —

When to himself his form appears unreal, as do on waking all the forms he sees in dreams;

When he has ceased to hear the many, he may discern the ONE — the inner sound which kills the outer.

Then only, not till then, shall he forsake the region of Asat, the false, to come unto the realm of Sat, the true.

Before the soul can see, the Harmony within must be attained, and fleshly eyes be rendered blind to all illusion.

Before the Soul can hear, the image (man) has to become as deaf to roarings as to whispers, to cries of bellowing elephants as to the silvery buzzing of the golden fire-fly.

Before the soul can comprehend and may remember, she must unto the Silent Speaker be united just as the form to which the clay is modelled, is first united with the potter’s mind.

For then the soul will hear, and will remember.

And then to the inner ear will speak —

THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE”

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

A beautiful piece of  writing and advice/teaching is in this text from the “Voice of Silence”. Many people on the occult path searching for so called magical powers (Iddhi’s). Or fancy powers to impress others or to manipulate others like in the Harry Potter movies. In our age of information pollution it seems people seeking for it more and more. Also because many people are awakening or experience their psychic powers.

The truth of this is that we all have those powers already within us. They are a ‘natural’ part of who we really are, actually we are already ‘perfect’ but we aren’t aware of it. The God in us. So in a sense they, those powers, can’t be obtained nor bought. They only can come up as a result of real spiritual progress. When the candidate is trying to put in practice noble thoughts and acts and is conscious what is going on those abilities come up. Also as a result of past lives people have accumulated those abilities already with them more or less manifest. (together with all kind of other talents) Since we all have are ‘god like’ “or god spark as Theosophists call it, we should cultivate noble actions and take responsibility for our thoughts feelings and actions. Those who seek plainly for these powers and want to  to obtain them or try to unveil so called secrets would be very disappointed.

There are many groups out there these days or so called guru’s who try to make people believe they can transfer those powers or even worse if they pay a lot of money for all kind of courses they obtain what they seek so earnestly. Or looking for the long lost secret to make the Elixir of Life or find the Philosopher’s Stone. Actually the Path as such is very dangerous in the hands of the people who are egoistically motivated since every form of egoism should be dissolved in order to be ready to control the forces of nature. In the first place we should be strife to be a better person for oneself and the world around us. Act in harmony with our True Will, To learn ‘how’ to care for oneself isn’t egoistical actually its an act of altruism because when one is an example and a embodiment of peace it’s automatically beneficial for others. This is also a gradual process since the True Will reveals itself in the process more and more. This is reflected in grades  in the A.’.A.’. system,  as land marks where we at. Every grade reveals a bit more from that True Will that is hidden in us. This is very visible in our actions or when one meet a real Adept or a Master like H.H the Dalai Lama, or H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and others. Even when we see a picture of them this peace and Wisdom can be felt. Same is true with so called hidden Masters or Adepts if one meet one of them one will know. Only when one is completely in sync with oneself, or in balance on all levels, and thus with the environment one is ready to receive the so called secrets. The so called secrets reveals themselves without obtaining, without striving without any form of clinging. These last characteristics are manifestations of the lower mind or the lower binary (The Nephesh and Ruach) . One should be more and more under the influence of the higher faculties of our mind, the aspects of our divine nature that never dies. This is for me the point, as far as I understand it so far, one is ready to make the Philosopher’s Stone as an Alchemist and to live the life of an Adept. At the end of the day these so called Iddhi’s are not really important any more and are viewed as just a by product of ones own evolution. That can be used with the aid of the higher aspects of our mind. Under the influence of our True Will.

Love is the law, love under will.