"Chosen One" syndrome?
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Hey ya'll.
I am curious about the "chosen one" syndrome. You know, a person climbing the spiritual evolution ladder and somewhere along the way meets some beings who start telling you your the next chosen one, in the line of planetary prophets or whatnot. Does TOT address this?
My analysis seems to interpret this phenomena in jungian terms. The individual identifies, above all others, with the Hero archetype. The "Chosen One" has come to save the day! Funnily enough, while some crazies buy into this temptation, the myths that grow up around them secure their own delusion and history has shown more than a few times the after effects of such cementing. What would the world be like without Jesus, Muhammad and David Koresh?
I'm serious though, is there any specific awareness that recognizes a temptation of this magnitude when one is bounding through the Sephers?
Thanks. -
93,
It could be simple ego inflation. The Jung fans on the list may correct me, but I think this tends to occur when there is an identification with the archetype of the Self. The sense of power or insight that comes in, is something we could easily assume is our own, unless we've done a lot of preliminary work. "Look at me, I can get answers!"
The Hero archetype could also be involved, but I'd have thought it could equally be the shadow aspect of the Wise Old Man or the Crone that colors the experience. "I am wise - hear my opinions and the tone in which I utter them! I am also humble, as shown by my not acquiring a Porsche from the proceeds to date."
The test, I'd assume, would be how eagerly the person embraced the idea of being 'chosen'. Crowley, for all his much-discussed weaknesses, held off for several years before claiming the grade of Magister Templi, and only embraced the fullness of his own mission in the 1920s - two decades after receiving Liber L.
93 93/93,
Edward
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And, to answer the direct question directly:
Yes, Temple of Thelema has several safeguards built in to gently handle this very common phenomenon (as well as several other common phenomenon of the Path).
Your Hero Archetype interpretation is probably substantially my own assessment, but in different language. Several things (or, rather, several variations of one or a few things) happen. For one, a person making significant progress begins to have moments of touching the infinite and splendid, and therefore it is natural to identify the ego with something infinite and splendid. (And these initial contacts - for quite some time - are made by subconsciousness, so it's in subconsciousness that they gestate, and from which they emerge). Identification with revered ones is also quite normal (a form of hero worship). And it's all the more potentially confusing because these elements are all touching (however briefly and tangentially) something authentic within the aspirant, and of the same nature.
Etc.
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It is my belief that we are all "chosen ones"; we all have a particular purpose in Will, and in living this purpose we do what we are "chosen" (or have chosen) to do. The problem is in seeing a particular purpose as having any externally greater significance. If each of us lived up to our "chosen" status, then each of us would save ourselves and the world. Like any other syndrome there is an underlying truth and necessity that is not being nurtured properly.
Group work tends, by its nature, to address this sort of symptomatic issue in that there is a greater community with a common language and similar goals to give balance to the individual experience. Involvement with other conscious "chosen ones" can curb an over inflation of the individual experience as something greater and necessarily significant outside of the individual perspective or purpose.
Life Love Liberty Light
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From Liber Porta Lucis, v. 9:
"...few in-deed are called, but of these few many are chosen."
From "An Account of A.'.A.'.,"
"Though not all men are called, many of the called are chosen, and that as soon as they become fit for entrance."
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93
Does not the axiom, 'fake it till you make it', have worth? Besides, how can one not feel a sense of being selected when hoi polloi dance around to the tune of reality TV and bad coffee; n'est pas?
As you can see, I've been having some difficulty with this issue myself.
93, 93/93
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93,
Augur said:
"Group work tends, by its nature, to address this sort of symptomatic issue in that there is a greater community with a common language and similar goals to give balance to the individual experience. Involvement with other conscious "chosen ones" can curb an over inflation of the individual experience as something greater and necessarily significant outside of the individual perspective or purpose.
"Since containing and redirecting apparently off-track energies is one of the functions of a mystery school, I've often thought 'going astray' might possibly a necessary step. (This is also a wonderful excuse to cover a lot of screw-ups).
Someone I knew long ago had a theory about 'Ashvanayana,' which he insisted meant "The yoga of the horse's arse." His idea was, we are sometimes educated best when we make public idiots of ourselves, or at least become fools in our own eyes.
So assuming we've achieved superior status might be a step we need to take, just in order to recognize the real limits and unrealized potential we have.
93 93/93,
Edward
(Source of All Wisdom, and the next Avatar) -
Ah... interesting replies. Now some honesty is in order. I myself underwent an experience that was SO REAL, I could not differentiate it from consensus reality. I was even given a book to write. Now, it took me quite some time to shake this delusion, but my personal assessment is that I had developed a superiority complex that articulated itself through a most convincing interaction with the imbalanced archetypes, namely the Hero in jungian terms. It was honestly insane! And breaking down the complex was very painful. The thing that helped me get through it all though was learning to laugh at my own stupidity. There was a moment where I realized that I was the dumbest person I knew (hey, who knows me better than myself right?). Once I could admit this, I had a great laugh at myself. I could jive with what Edward was saying about the yoga of the "horses ass". Anyway, after coming out of this experience, all I can say is "whew"...I wonder what size straightjacket I would've been wearing had I not?!
Jim, can you share in short summary what kind of direction or advice one is given in TOT, deterring others from plunging into such delusions?
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@BNNHKDSH said
"Jim, can you share in short summary what kind of direction or advice one is given in TOT, deterring others from plunging into such delusions?"
It's not in that form... it's stuff built into the fabric of the Order that addresses this, not a specific instruction.
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"But ye are not so chosen."
Take this as you will, for I am not inclined to offer up my interpretations of anything in Liber AL to others. The only truly valid interpretations, in my estimation, are those which result from inspiration, not intellectual dissection, as in the case of all such books which were, themselves, inspired.
I just thought the quote an appropriate remark on the issue of "Chosen Ones."
