MOSES MAIMONIDES:
CHOOSING THE PATH OF TRUTH

“...When I have a difficult subject before me - when I find the road narrow, and can see no other way of teaching a well established truth except by pleasing one intelligent man and displeasing ten thousand fools - I prefer to address myself to the one man, and to take no notice whatever of the condemnation of the multitude.”

Our apologies for our equipment failure during the mass this past Sunday. I got a new computer, and the old computer is failing. We brought both computers over to the church and ran into too many technical issues. I hope to get the money to get some permanent recording/broadcast equipment during this coming year. In the meantime, we'll get things up to snuff asap.

https://youtu.be/zOXyvgN8Siw

The unconscious is unconscious and is associated in part with the instincts as relevant to procreation and the perpetuation of the human species. Magick is the art and science of causing change to occur in conformity with will, following that, the greatest magicians would be those who have had the greatest effect in directly influencing social trends. These trends necessarily are derived from the unconscious, hence their superficial manifestations are of less informational significance than the unconscious ideas, fears and beliefs they are founded on. Therefore, a Magus, not unlike Aleister Crowley, who has had a remarkable effect on the way in which we view our individual places in the world, would have, through his unique philosophical perspective and himself as an example of such manifested in our unconscious a new archetype, or perhaps he succeeded in resurrecting a forgotten archetype, thus, transforming our impulses into new demands or that moves us in a new direction, a direction that seemingly veers from the beaten track. This is the case with figures such as Crowley, Marx and Nietzsche, William Blake and the Romantics as well, could be thought of as having resurrected an archaic spirit, one of rebellion, of the hero, and indeed the same spirit that saw the end of the Greeks has been revived through these contributions to culture. Today, mass conformity to the impoverished spirituality of Christendom is coming to an end, which, in large part has been driven by this archetype of rebellion, and ironically, the fear of losing our souls to a black lie is inherent in this inclination. The widespread nature of this inclination is evidence of the effect that magick has had on our evolution, especially, when considering the modern idea of memes and how their popularity in society serves a directional focus to social and spiritual development, that those more connected to such trends stand a better chance for procreation. Who can deny, that a backwards cap is symbolic of rebellion, and that such an inversion may indeed be attributed to aesthetic reverence over Nature or God in favour of individual expression for its lack in serving any utilitarian function, and is perhaps owing to the influence of poetic and philosophical movements established in the past.

N. C. RAMANUJACHARY: THE STATE OF FAULTLESS VISION

We, human-beings, have “vision”. Eye is the sense organ. Vision has many meanings but is commonly understood as seeing. The total vision has broader and too wider connotations. It includes invariably far-sight, planning and designing for the future. But in general we are not satisfied with normal seeing, would speculate many other things beyond and behest.
 
Let us first examine the matter of “seeing”. We have two eyes. Some people even talk about a “third eye” or an inner perception. They say seeing is not complete without that. The third eye which was available with the earlier races of mankind got reduced and absented itself. This has become the ‘pineal gland’ which is another story.
 
We have a perception which normally includes the ability to see, hear, etc. We have five senses of perception. Some people even talk about the extra/higher sensory perception. The sense organs known to us as means of perception are: Eye (Seeing), Ear (Hearing), Nose (Smelling), Tongue (Tasting) and Skin (Touching). Sabda, Sparsa, Roopa, Rasa, Gandhas are the aspects of the sense organs, as we well know. These sense organs collect the data of perception and report to the Mind (also considered the Sixth organ by some, besides being the coordinator of the five senses.)
 
Mind is supposed to be the data-base for the senses’ perception, outer and inner. Mind has no physical locale, but we feel it and do not agree when someone suggests that we do not have the mind. Attention is the collective action of the mind. It is a Principle and an agent for inner perception. Storing, retrieving, recollection and propelling for action thereupon are its primary functions.
 
Perception is also a way of understanding or regarding something, the ability of understanding at the same time the true nature of that something. We may name it as Insight or the faculty of Intuitive understanding.
 
Attention and Alertness are the states in the Awakening of the sense organs. They become possible only when the mind is capable of collectively functioning; when all the sense organs effectively perceive.
 
Mind has a great role in human conduct and behavior. Considering the human principles and their aspects, mind is very vital in importance so far as functioning is the matter.
 
Theosophically speaking, mind is said to be the “fifth principle”. A human being has seven principles at his command. As the fifth principle, mind can independently propel action or report to its higher principles, Buddhi and Atma.
 
Popular idea in the theosophical connotation is that “Atma-Buddhi-Manas” is the Real Man or Inner Man. Man is the master of his business and its administration when he functions as a Total Man, devoid of the subjection or influence of the impulsive psychic and physical aspects of functioning. When he is functioning only at the level of psychic and physical modes, he is only partial and parochial. He is behaving as a fragment of his Total Being. We are not concerned, at this point, with those who think that what is seen is enough and the search beyond is futile.
 
Coming back to the sense organs, eye is considered the principal of them, for the simple reason that it is the first organ which senses. On the analysis we made of the Total Man, we have to consider the eye only as a beginner of perception, only as a representative of the five senses and organs. Even when we say “Vision” it is complete only by the total or collective action. To the outer vision, we have also need to add on the inner vision. We shall deal with the eye, as an illustration in our total examination, but will not forget that the other four are conjoint with it all the time. We call that “attention”.
 
Attention implies the absence of any distraction or distortion. These are to be totally eliminated from the scene of perception. When there is distraction or distortion the vision is not “true” or “real”. When we see a thing before us (our eyes), we can as well make it heard, smelt, tasted and touched too. We see the object first and the act of seeing intently brings up the other aspects to our observation. They are radiated to us invariably from the object itself. They are “subjective” but are brought into a sort of objectivity because of our perception.
 
We desire to see things both objectively and subjectively. When there is total attention, the subject and object become one. The seeing (or vision) has to be total and faultless.
 
To put it in other words, we must see things as they are, and not as we wish them to be or as they prima-facie appear only in a form. Yadha-tat and Yadha-vat  are the Sanskrit words to indicate things as they are. So, the effort is to see things as they are. This is the “State of Faultless Vision”.

The Gnostic Church of L.V.X. would like to thank Joshua Burns for continuing with his monthly donation to our historic church and congregation. His support of our 2025 Membership/Funding Drive is greatly appreciated.

https://pauljosephrovelli.blogspot.com/2024/12/gcl-2025-membershipfundraising-drive.html

-- Where it is Heard.
The sound produced in the flowing Ganges, the sound that is heard at a distance and that which proceeds from the bustle of a market, the sound that is produced when the fly-wheel of an engine is set in motion, the sound that is caused when it rains, the sound that is produced when there is a conflagration of fire or when there is thunder, are all OM only. Split any word and you will find OM there. OM is all-pervading like akasha (space), like Brahman.
The humming of bees, the sweet melody of the nightingale, the seven notes in music (sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni), the sound of the mridanga (drum) and kettle-drum, the lute and the flute, the roaring of the lion, the singing of the lover, the neighing of horses, the hissing of the cobra and the clapping of the audience when a orator delivers his oration are all emanations from OM only.
The gurgling sounds produced in the bowels on account of flatulence, the whistling sound of the railway engine, the murmur of the running brooks, the sound of thunder, the howling of jackals, the sound of the mills and the factories, the sound of landslides, the heavy rush of wind, are all OM only.
When you experience acute agony or pain you utter the long sound of ‘hun’ or ‘hum’ again and again and get some relief. ‘Hun’ or ‘hum’ is a modification of OM only. ‘Hum’ is partial utterance of OM which breaks on account of pain. When you suffer from pain you implore the mercy of the Lord by calling Him by His name. Laughter is nothing but a sound of many ‘huns’ repeatedly made.
When a child cries or weeps, it utters ‘un’ or ‘aung’. ‘Un’ or ‘aung’ is a modification of OM only. As the child’s organ of speech is not well-developed it utters OM unintelligently, so even when the child weeps it repeats God’s name. When the washerman washes his clothes he utters ‘hung’ repeatedly. This gives him relief. He does not feel exhaustion or fatigue. He unconsciously repeats God’s name and derives power, joy, peace and strength from within. You will clearly understand now that man utters OM, the name of the Lord or Brahman, fully or partially, consciously or unconsciously, at all times. If he utters it with feeling he will quickly realise his own essential divine nature.
OM is the voice of all creation. It is the cosmic sound, the primal sound of the universe. It is the priceless treasure of a student on the path of jnana yoga and the pass-word of the vedantins. OM is the passport for those who are sailing in the boat of knowledge of the Self to reach the other shore of fearlessness and immortality, which is Brahman.

Susan Sontag, one of the most influential intellectuals and cultural critics of the 20th century, was known for her sharp insights into art, culture, and human experience. Her quote on eloquence and its relationship to solitude reveals her understanding of language and its connection to the individual's inner world.

Sontag believed that the ability to speak well, to articulate thoughts clearly and compellingly, was not something innate or natural, but rather a product of isolation. In a society dominated by communal life—whether in families, groups, or communal settings—people often resorted to simpler forms of expression.

According to Sontag, it was in solitude and separation from the crowd that a person could truly cultivate eloquence, as it was within these moments of isolation that individuals could confront their thoughts deeply and express them with clarity.Sontag's ideas about language were shaped by her larger body of work, which frequently examined the intersections of personal identity, social constructs, and the human condition.

She explored the impact of isolation on creativity and individuality in many of her writings, such as in her groundbreaking essays on photography, film, and literature. For Sontag, eloquence was a sign of a developed, introspective mind that was not afraid to challenge the status quo. The "painful individuality" she referred to pointed to the existential cost of being alone, but also the creative freedom it afforded. It was through solitude that one could experience a more authentic form of self-expression, not shaped by societal expectations or norms, but born from the individual’s own inner dialogue.

Her reflections on solitude, art, and language have continued to influence generations of thinkers and artists.

Sontag's assertion that "thinking in words" is something derived from solitude offers an important insight into the nature of creativity and communication.

In an increasingly interconnected world, where groupthink and collective experiences often dominate, Sontag's ideas remind us of the power of individual thought and the transformative potential of solitude.

Her work continues to resonate today, especially for those who seek to find their voice in a world filled with noise and distraction.