The Probationers Journey: Considerable attainment?

Halcyon

In the TOT description of the Probationer Journey the following quote is given (below). What is meant here by "considerable attainment"?

The practices as described in Liber E take effort (over some time) to master to the extent that they become tools that can be applied to more advanced practices such as those in section 5 & 6 of Liber O. Surely a probationer would be better served by applying themselves consistently to meditation, asana (and perhaps pranayama) and the basic ritual work of Liber O, before beginning work on more advanced astra-mental separation exercises? (which seem a part of the 1=10 grade anyway).

The grade outline for 0=0 seems to either imply that you need a certain mastery of each exercise listed below (which seems much to much for 1 year, and these are in any case often assessed in later steps), or seems to imply that rather than taking things in a natural sequence the student is to attain notable results at magical practices ... while still working on their preparatory exercises.

Could someone shed some light on this?

Thanks,
Joe.

Quote:
I am authorised to say that no one will be admitted as a Neophyte unless his year’s work [as a Probationer] gives evidence of considerable attainment in the fundamental practices, Asana, Pranayama, assumption of God-forms, vibration of divine names, rituals of banishing and invoking, and the practices set out in sections 5 and 6 of Liber O. Although he is not examined in any of these, the elementary experience is necessary in order that he may intelligently assist those who will be under him.

Jim Eshelman

@Halcyon said

"In the TOT description of the Probationer Journey the following quote is given (below). "

For the record, there is no Temple of Thelema description of the Probaitoner Journey. You're probably quoting my book, which is not a T.'.O.'.T.'. publication, and which was written by me as a member of A.'.A.'..

Besides , you're quoting Crowley - so you might as well leave me out of the picture <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile-l.gif" alt=":L)" title="Smile-L" />

"What is meant here by "considerable attainment"?"

The passage you quote from Crowley reads:

"I am authorised to say that no one will be ad-mitted as a Neophyte unless his year’s work [as a Probationer] gives evidence of consider-able attainment in the fundamental practices, Asana, Pranayama, assumption of God-forms, vibration of divine names, rituals of banishing and invoking, and the practices set out in sections 5 and 6 of Liber O. Although he is not examined in any of these, the elementary experience is necessary in order that he may intelligently assist those who will be under him."

First, the actual meaning in a given case depends more than a little on the particular Probationer and particular Neophyte, so I'm not going to try to pin it down.

Second, the standard here is less than is expected for examination in later grades. For example, 'attainment' expected in the Liber O items is less than would be required to pass from 1=10 to 2=9, and the Liber E skills in pranayama and asana are less than would be required to pass from 2=9 to 3=8. Crowley also characterized it, in the quote above, as "elementary experience."

I could try to quantify this - for example, by saying that asana has to be perfectly steady for 10-15 minutes instead of an hour - but that would be the wrong approach. What a given Probationer needs is somewhat unique.

"The practices as described in Liber E take effort (over some time) to master"

"Considerable attainment" does not mean mastery

"Surely a probationer would be better served by applying themselves consistently to meditation, asana (and perhaps pranayama) and the basic ritual work of Liber O, before beginning work on more advanced astra-mental separation exercises? (which seem a part of the 1=10 grade anyway)."

Not necessarily. And, in fact, much of the inner work of the Probationer has to do with acquiring basic skills in both magick and yoga so that he or she can find his or her own way through them, evolving a certain personal technique (so to speak).

"The grade outline for 0=0 seems to either imply that you need a certain mastery of each exercise listed below (which seems much to much for 1 year, and these are in any case often assessed in later steps), or seems to imply that rather than taking things in a natural sequence the student is to attain notable results at magical practices ... while still working on their preparatory exercises. "

The Probationer curriculum contains pretty much everything from the grades 1=10 through 4=7. Gaining familiarity with these sets one up for undertaking each piece in turn in the grades following. Also, at the Probationer stage, the "natural sequence" is not the same for each person. It depends on history, karma, and more.

The main answer, then, is that the Probationer, after applying himself or herself to this for a time, should consult on this question with his or her Neophyte.

Halcyon

"The Probationer curriculum contains pretty much everything from the grades 1=10 through 4=7. Gaining familiarity with these sets one up for undertaking each piece in turn in the grades following. "

So the focus here is to experiment and try various techniques, and "considerable attainment" can be taken to mean that you actually worked and applied yourself to things (thus gaining the early results each practice leads to).

Thanks for the clarification - I'm still "casing things out" as they say

Jim Eshelman

Yes.