...delivered from lust of result is in every way perfect.
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"...true will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result is in every way perfect"
Have I been reading this backwards / wrong / completely opposite of it's meaning?
I had originally taken it this way:
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unassuaged of purpose = "True Will having been discovered, one's purpose is no longer a burden and purpose is no longer an issue."
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"delivered from lust of result" as to say: "freed from lust of result" the way one would say a group was "delivered from slavery," which is a fitting comparison since lust of result could be compared to slavery (ie. being a slave to your desires).
Maybe I just took this interpretation for granted after reading so many instructions about not lusting for results after performing magic. But, in short, this interpretation meant to me to be concerned only with your greater purpose/ True Will and not so much with the little things. Only the highest pursuit.
But, suddenly, I'm reading it completely the opposite: now seems to me that it could possibly be saying that the True Will is propagated or birthed from lust of result and that one should not be concerned with purpose. Why? Because! Be it damned for a dog! In other words, this is not saying to be unconcerned with results; instead, this is saying just the opposite: to be lusting for results, and in doing so, your True Will is born or discovered/delivered. Do not be concerned with purpose because your purpose is in-born and natural, not to be overanalyzed or forced or falsified, etc.
The two are completely opposite in terms of meaning and both are grammatically correct interpretations, I think.
This is starting to remind me of the Do What Thou Wilt misunderstanding... in fact, it is the Do What Thou Wilt thing all over again sort of. It's not saying, "do whatever you feel like," but yet it is saying that in a less casual, less carefree way than it is generally taken.
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93
Re: "For Pure Will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect."
The dictionary has "assuage" meaning: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one's grief; to assuage one's pain. Unassuage would be the opposite, yes?
I've always taken the phrase to mean, 'with no decreasing of purpose,' or 'with the full strength of purpose.' The WHY of something, despite it being Yod-Hehe-Vav backwards (thanks, Jim), defines your actions.
I would also speculate that purpose is above the intellect, and not necessarily verbal or rational.
"Enough of Because! Be he damned for a dog!" Liber L. II:33
Notice it says damned for a dog, not 'he is already dead,' nor 'damned to hell.' Dogs are useful. They are servants of man. They are there to help us herd the sheep, scare off adversaries, provide companionship, etc. Purpose then, is not all powerful, it is a tool for our True Will to function through.
93, 93/93
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"From" isn't used with "delivered" in the parturition sense, so I see no reason to stand this particular instruction on its head.
OTOH, I've personally benefitted from having totally whacked, absurd, and off-the-track interpretations of Liber L. for short periods of time, so there may be something for you to pursue here. I think the main question to consider would be: Why is this exact "hit" occurring to you at this exact time?
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I don't know, Jim. I'm having trouble figuring out what unassuaged means here [edit: I guess the previous post by Draco helped me figure it out]. I drew the Lust Atu last night and just started thinking about it. Also, I can't seem to make out for sure that he's not using "delivered from" as a double entendre or even a "single entendre"
referring to partruition. From the wording it doesn't seem clear. If he meant "free of" or "liberated from" it's interesting that he should use "delivered from" here which is the only phrase that has the added connotation. No?I suppose it wouldn't be proper to tell me what this phrase from Liber L means, but were either of my interpretations above correct? I'm thinking my first impressions were correct, but maybe not. I'm actually confused here, not just blabbering hypothetical rhetoric.
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@Draco Magnus said
"93
Re: "For Pure Will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect."
The dictionary has "assuage" meaning: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one's grief; to assuage one's pain. Unassuage would be the opposite, yes?"
Yes, I guess you're right. So, it is, "True Will, not relieved of purpose (or "filled with purpose")?
So, now the "delivered from lust of result" part... I take this to mean:
"...one's purpose and True Will take precedence over all other considerations."
I wonder if there is a sort of double-meaning here, though, that is sensible once a person realizes he is on the correct path and he can do "naught but his true will," as Crowley might say?
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Excerpts from my notes on Liber L. 1:44, reflecting views from the early 1990s, as posted on aumha.org/arcane/ccxx.htm
""Pure will." I am reminded that Yesod is the Purifying Consciousness. The will that is here discussed is (from the verse content) obviously clear, undistorted, &c.; and by this word "pure" we are likely told that it is especially undistorted by the instincts, emotions, and reactions. Quite the contrary; the adaptive aspect of the psyche, and the inherent force of the will in subconsciousness, likely ensure its pure manifestation. (The word "pure" is THVR = 220, the number of verses in the Book.)
This will is to be "unassuaged of purpose." AC had difficulty with this language. "Unassuaged" can perhaps best be rendered as "undiminished." The inherent passion or drive of the will is not to be diminished. Thirdly, it must be without "lust of result," for all of the usual reasons. Pure. Undiminished in its purposefulness. Yet without lust of result. Such will is perfect will. (AC renders "without lust of result" as "nonattachment," which is good.)
AC defines "pure will" as "the true expression of the Nature, the proper or inherent motion of the matter, concerned. It is unnatural to aim at any goal."
(PRELIMINARY NOTE. The expected Chesed attribution of this verse is broadly present - especially in comparison to the verse preceding - by the sure forth-flowing of the "perfect" will. On first impression, I suspect the four parts of this verse correspond to the Sephiroth 1-4: "pure will" = Kether, "unassuaged of purpose" = Chokmah, "delivered from the lust of result" = Binah, climaxing in "is every way perfect" = Chesed. It's pretty good. But I want to spend more time delving into it.)"
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Thanks, that clarifies it.
"AC defines "pure will" as "the true expression of the Nature, the proper or inherent motion of the matter, concerned. It is unnatural to aim at any goal.""
This is difficult to put in words, but as an artist or a musician, for example, or even when working with computer programs, when I go into "doing mode," it is like I've heard other people describe it as "zen" or "jedi" or whatever semi-serious, inexact term to describe the strange state of focus that is almost "not-thinking" where the artist/musician/programmer becomes one (in a sense) with his object or intention. This is most likely a more mundane application of "will," but there is some overlay here of "pure will" and "lust of result". If you try to analyze why artists, musicians or whoever feel compelled to do what they're doing, some want fame or recognition, sure, but there are plenty of people just driven to do something because they have to or they feel they were born to or whatever. And what they are driven to do is intermingled with the result. When the result is finished, there is a satisfaction that is not dependent upon the result, but upon having done the thing, like creating a sand castle which you know will only bring a fleeting moment of "result satisfaction."
So, in the doing is the essence of the doer. In this way, I was considering the above Liber L entries. And if I remember correctly, Crowley has said similar things about True Will elsewhere in relation to the "doing".
In other words, the True Will is geared toward a specific "direction" which naturally produces certain results and, along the way of that direction, there would be a series of results-oriented strivings all directed by an inner compass. So, the will is unassuaged of purpose and is delivered (in the birthing sense) from lust of result. For, if results-oriented strivings are not undertaken, True Will will never be expressed ("delivered from"). And, paradoxically, True Will is freed from lust of result ("delivered from") because one's grander Purpose, once discovered, exists whether or not any results are achieved, so it is not dependent upon results. Whether you fail to act in accordance with your True Will, the True Will will always remain. This is why the term "discovered" is used rather than "decide." You discover your True Will, you don't decide what it is. So, it is not dependent upon anything, but it is not necessarily expressed, either (for example, if one does not discover it, he is not aware how to act in line with it).
Makes some sense, I hope. I think it's rather cool (and I don't think I've just made this up, so I'm not patting myself on the back).
