THELEMA: Last Word of the British Empire?
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Recently I have been exploring the idea of THELEMA as the Word upon the final breath of the British Empire in my poetry. It has turned into a lengthy piece, and sparked a desire to share the notion to hear what others might think.
At the core is a comparison of the moralistic view the British had of their Empire and the philosophy expounded through Thelema.
One may argue that from the perspective of the British it was their moral duty to spread the concept of law to the "undeveloped nations." Just as Crowley saw it as his duty to reveal the Law to all the peoples of the World.This lead to the formation of an Empire expressely British, that faced especially British problems and evolved as opposed to falling apart as is the case with most Empires.
The British Empire eventually 'crumbling' not necessarily due to outside forces,instead a collapse of the British Will to rule and spread "Law."
For, Britain, very much like a parent saw it as their duty to develop the countries under their steward ship:
Beginning as colonies, evolving towards semi-autonomous states, members of the Commonwealth and eventually entirely independent nations within a "family" of nationalistic states with common roots in British law and ideology.The subsequent appearance of Crowley, along with "the Law" in many ways part of the natural evolution of the Empire from a material ideal (of a single nation ruling others) to that of a spiritual one ( numerous, separate distinction nations joined together in brotherhood beneath a single ideal ).
This can be seen in many ways. One distinct example is how the colonies "grew up," learned to "speak" (English), eventually granting them the ability to express their desires (via the English Word) and use the very ideas manipulated by the European powers against them.
Crowley and Thelemas distinct place in this drama upon closer examination. Becoming a manifestation of both the most positive and negative aspects of the British Empire. With the people eventually projecting their Shadow onto him, wishing to ignore his symbolic representation of the Empire with all its glory and faults on display.
OK, this post is starting to get really long and I have not even finished my research/writing. However, the topic has caused me some excitement, so I thought to share some of my thoughts so far. Has anyone else considered this? Have some ideas, thoughts or insights to share? Eventually, I need to finish my poetic piece, till then I was hoping for an intellectual exchange.
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The great flaw of the British Empire, that was ultimately their undoing, was their (racially motivated) unwillingness to extend the benefits of full citizenship to all their colonial holdings. That is, it was unequal, even by merit.
I think that this was, in a way, the direct contradiction of the meritocratic British values at the core of that culture; and this hypocrisy (a failure to do their Will) was what wore them down.
Its interesting to suggest that THELEMA became the last great product of the British Empire; its fitting, because its a word of Liberty, and one that assumes a kind of fundamental equality of potential and regard; that neither the british empire nor Crowley himself could actually manifest in their daily attitudes, in spite of themselves.
93!
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@Swamiji said
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The great flaw of the British Empire, that was ultimately their undoing, was their (racially motivated) unwillingness to extend the benefits of full citizenship to all their colonial holdings. That is, it was unequal, even by merit.
"Yes, I thought to express, that part of my argument involved the British Empire falling in their moral quest to set actions equal to word.
One might say the British of the time had a very business oriented outlook.
They established control in so far as it was required to protect British citizens during the course of their many buisness deals throughout the world.
In many ways, leaving a countries infastructure the way it is.
Assigning a representative to bring British Law, slowly transforming it into an extention of Britain.Invariably, their control was more based on the fact that the other races gave into the mystic.
That the British were these champions of morality, destroying old barriers and bringing equality.
As the moving picture brought into the common persons mind the bounds of the Empire
And recorded sounds and words told them of what was going on inside of their peoples
They could not help but recognize the dispartyThus, Cannada and India for example, where were originally colonies.
Became members of the British Comonwealth of Nations, and possesed some autonomy.
Eventually the British loosing the funds and desire to maintain any control
And thus reluctantly declared the kids grown up, "granting" them sovereignty -
@kasper81 said
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In fact here's an idea for you Crowley is not the only word of an aeon to be connected to the UK (soon to be disunited if Alex Salmon's ego gets it's way?) as Buddha was aked where heaven was and he answered "Glastonbury England" and Christ's uncle traded tin in Devon and was said to have visited with his nephew then again maybe just legends"
I'm familiar with the folk tales about how Christ's "feet in ancient time walked upon England's mountains green"; but this is the first time I ever heard about the Buddha thing. I wonder exactly in which Theraveda scripture would that be found?
If it isn't, you can bet its fiction.
93!
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The answer to the question is yes.
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@Uni_Verse said
"Recently I have been exploring the idea of THELEMA as the Word upon the final breath of the British Empire in my poetry. It has turned into a lengthy piece, and sparked a desire to share the notion to hear what others might think.
At the core is a comparison of the moralistic view the British had of their Empire and the philosophy expounded through Thelema.
One may argue that from the perspective of the British it was their moral duty to spread the concept of law to the "undeveloped nations." Just as Crowley saw it as his duty to reveal the Law to all the peoples of the World.This lead to the formation of an Empire expressely British, that faced especially British problems and evolved as opposed to falling apart as is the case with most Empires.
The British Empire eventually 'crumbling' not necessarily due to outside forces,instead a collapse of the British Will to rule and spread "Law."
For, Britain, very much like a parent saw it as their duty to develop the countries under their steward ship:
Beginning as colonies, evolving towards semi-autonomous states, members of the Commonwealth and eventually entirely independent nations within a "family" of nationalistic states with common roots in British law and ideology.The subsequent appearance of Crowley, along with "the Law" in many ways part of the natural evolution of the Empire from a material ideal (of a single nation ruling others) to that of a spiritual one ( numerous, separate distinction nations joined together in brotherhood beneath a single ideal ).
This can be seen in many ways. One distinct example is how the colonies "grew up," learned to "speak" (English), eventually granting them the ability to express their desires (via the English Word) and use the very ideas manipulated by the European powers against them.
Crowley and Thelemas distinct place in this drama upon closer examination. Becoming a manifestation of both the most positive and negative aspects of the British Empire. With the people eventually projecting their Shadow onto him, wishing to ignore his symbolic representation of the Empire with all its glory and faults on display.
OK, this post is starting to get really long and I have not even finished my research/writing. However, the topic has caused me some excitement, so I thought to share some of my thoughts so far. Has anyone else considered this? Have some ideas, thoughts or insights to share? Eventually, I need to finish my poetic piece, till then I was hoping for an intellectual exchange."
...On the inspiration of a whim my desire to elaborate may stem from the fact that I am British born, however ideologically, as far from British as possible, in that I am not a monarchist; if that is what the essence of "Britishness" means ultimately? to cut a long story short. Thelema is the last relevant contribution of the British empire in my opinion(And there is nothing humble about it) as far as the poetic.." last breath" well i suppose that is up for anybody's personal interpretation. As far as British Colonization the effects are extremely complex and far reaching, whereby if you overstand that language is the extension of thought(and it is) then we see represented by various "broken-English" or "Pigeon-English"dialects in commonwealth countries, the evidence of an assimilation of a foreign thought process into the English language or vice versa in it's manifested metamorphosed(or fragmented) state.