lashtal.com :: View topic - Thelema in Russia

lashtal.com

Events - Thelema in Russia

Anonymous - Jun 15, 2005 - 05:30 PM
Post subject: Thelema in Russia

“IO Pan”
93!
Without borders!

This year, in April, Oasis "Pan's Asylum" in Moscow, Russia celebrated its 5th anniversary. We would like to share with our Western brothers and sisters information of how we live and what we do in Russian O.T.O.

All borders are just an illusion; nevertheless, sometimes we have difficulties to understand each other. And if you truly wish something, it will come to you by all means…

In connection with the fifth anniversary of Russian O.T.O, our heads made a decision to start publishing monthly bulletin, to update our brothers and sisters from different regions of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus with information about our rituals, life and interests. There is quite common that, for example, in a small Siberian town, far away from us, there lives one of our brothers or sisters. And our goal is to support this person, to help him or her to feel united with other brethrens. This is the main goal of our bulletin “IO Pan”.

The following is a short abstract from our May issue.

One of our heads prepared material about responsibility of the sponsors for each and every candidate. This article has intention to help our brother in the process of giving recommendation to a person interested in joining O.T.O.

In the news column we informed our readers about changes in O.T.O. government and appointment of new Grand Secretary General, as well as about chartering of a new Grand Lodge of O.T.O. in the United Kingdom. Also, Master of our Oasis announced the enrollment of new candidates to preparatory study group, and work group on Enochian Magic.

Also Sr. Dew presented her report of the first Gnostic Mass in Belarus and shared her feelings about her first experience as a Priestess.

Fr. S.S. published his work “Liber 718”, which was his meditative immersing in the Book of the Law.

Sr. Scorpio Aquarianus shared her thoughts and practical knowledge of work with the pentagram in the light of the following sentence: “Within me shines the pentagram in the pillar of the sixth rays star!”

Arjuna, a friend of our Order, who is a Tantra specialist, translated his article into English for you. This article was the basis of his seminar he has conducted for members of our Order. His article is followed the abstract.

A brother from Ukraine shared with candidates his first experience of working with sexual magic and results he obtained.

Miraculously we met our Russian-speaking brother and sister from California, who assisted us in preparing this material for you in English. Fr. Metaxas was born in Omsk, Russia. Long time lived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Since 1991 resides in the USA. He and his wife are members of O.T.O. in Thelema Lodge in California.

Fr. Metaxas presented his material on the Tarot Court, opening by his first article the series of Tarot lectures in our bulletin.

Fr. Anton shared his opinion about just published book by Irving **** (название книги на английском), in which he calls Crowley the black magi and evil sorcerer.

Traditionally, the issue had ended with magical books review and thelemic calendar for the next month.

We hope this abstract provided you with an idea about us and our work. If there are Russian-speaking people among you, we will be happy to send you our bulletin. If you wish to subscribe the bulletin, please write to Sr. Dew, the secretary of Moscow Oasis at: harridany@yandex.ru

Also, we would be happy to see you in Moscow as our visitors. Looking forward to hear from you soon.

93 93/93
The Mystery of the “five M”.

(extract from the article)

One of the most essential components of doctrine and practice of Kaula-tantrism is panchatattva

or the mystery of the “five M” (panchamakara). In the context of sadhana (religious

practice) panchatattva is the main ritual, the sacrifice of Kula and the mystical communion

with the Goddess. Doctrinally it reveals itself as a gnosiological matrix upon which

the Body of the Godhead, macro- and microcosm are classified.

According to the doctrine of Tantras, the method to reach full perfection is enjoyment of the

world in love towards the Goddess. Yoni-tantra 6.25 says: “Happiness is achieved through

enjoyment, through enjoyment liberation is achieved. Thus one has to devote himself

completely to enjoyment”. But alongside it is stressed that love is the most essential on

this way. For instance, Meru-tantra 10.67 says: “Only that one whose love is strong succeeds

on this way of the Left”; same is stated by Kularnava-tantra, Parananda-sutra and

other Tantras. Why enjoyment is so important? Because enjoyment is the means to reveal

that spiritual bliss which is said to be the form of the Absolute manifested in body

(Kularnava-tantra 5.80). And as Devi-rahasya puts it, “the Supreme Lady is satisfied

through the worship of the taste of bliss” (Uttarakhanda 58.11). However this path of enjoyment

is opened not for everyone; Tantras underline that only “hero”, vira, is capable of

following it. Such vira possesses complete faith in himself and God, right knowledge and

logic (saljnana and sattarka), devotion to Shakti (Goddess and beloved woman) and appropriate

initiation into Kula lineage. Then there is only one prescription which he has to

follow - svechchhachara, “following one’s own [true] will” (Kali-tantra 8.19). Thus Kaulatantrism

gives the same Law of Thelema as Liber AL does.

The doctrine of “five M” has to be set in this context. Panchamakara is the essence of

kula-yoga. It is stated in Jnanarnava-tantra 22.68 that “the union of male and female is the

true yoga”. Through the union in love one enters the transcendent abode, paramapada. As

Shiva says in Maheshvara-tantra, “being in love is [being] above the world”.

Five essences of Kula, panchatattva, are five aspects of amorous union with Shakti.

Mahanirvana-tantra 5.22 insists that panchatattva is necessary in the worship of Her. The

“five M” are that much important so Kularatnavali states that without 5M the Goddess is

never pleased.

Five kula-tattvas are signifying the totality of the Goddess’ presence. It can be put that the

tantric communion exists in five forms: wine, meat, fish, mudra and maithuna. In sanskrit

all these words start from letter “m”, thus the title panchamakara. Out of these five two last

are left without translation; the reason is that their meanings are several. Mudra commonly

stands for fried grain (which symbolise that seeds of karmas are burned in the fire of

knowledge), but original sense must have been “sexual partner”. This reading is supported

not only by buddhist tradition but also by the tantric etymology of the term: “that which

brings joy is called mudra”. Final makara, maithuna, is a sexual communion and its result,

emission of secretions.

From one side the ritual usage of 5M was the act of antinomianism, transgression of socioreligious

law of Smriti. Like that Niruttara-tantra suggests to reject vedic prescriptions.

However this is merely surface of this ritual; its essence is much deeper.

Symbolically five tattvas represent five aspects of the Goddess, five parts of Her Body. In

their succession 5M constitute the method of tantric yoga. Wine (madya) symbolises the

mystical intoxication of love-feeling, prema-rasa, which occurs as a result of awakening of

the heart under the impact of divine grace (anugraha-shakti). Wine corresponds to Shakti,

feminine side of the Divinity. Meat on the other side stands for Its masculine side, Shiva. It

symbolises awareness, inner silence, contemplation (dhyana). Wine and meat are Shakti

and Shiva (see Kularnava-tantra 5.7 Cool

, they are Nuit and Hadit. The verse of Kularnava

further reads: “The one who enjoys [their union] is himself Bhairava, and the bliss springing

up from their union is Liberation”. Bhairava or Hor of Liber AL is symbolised by a fish

(matsya or mina), dragon or serpent. This dragon is arising, it is a personification of

arohana-shakti, energy of uplifting. As Shiva-sutra says: “Bhairava is raising”. This is also

sankshobha, sexual arousing of the Goddess (see Niruttara-tantra 5.19). Then, the bliss of

union is mudra, “that which brings joy”. Mudra is Maat and Babalon, Scarlet Woman and

the lower Shekhinah of Kabbalah.

The four elements described are corresponding to the four letters of the Holy Name of

God, four sphiroth, four aeons of Liber AL and four directions. They are the four aspects of

fifth tattva, which is above all. Maithuna represents the return to the primal Unity, which is

the state of the Godhead. It is the perfect union of man and woman in love-taste, mahasukha

of buddhist Tantras. While wine and meat correspond to the descent of Shakti,

graceful power of the Divine, and fish and mudra - to the consequent accent of lower kundalini,

maithuna is samarasya, “merging in one taste”. It is in maithuna, sexual union with

shakti, that the highest bliss, paramananda, is realised. As Tantras say, “happiness that

manifests in the union has the quality of bliss supreme” (samyoge jAyate saukhyaM paramAnandalakShaNam).

According to the teaching of Kula, the ritual of 5M ought to be performed only when one

has an authority (adhikara) given by the Goddess and guru and when he has love towards

his shakti, woman. Tantras underline that woman has to be viewed as an incarnation of the

Goddess (for instance, see Mahakala-samhita Guhyakali-khanda 10.1663). Moreover,

Annadakalpa-tantra 15.46 goes as far as to say that “one can reject his mother and father,

one can reject Shiva and Vishnu, one can even reject the Goddess - but never his beloved

woman”.

“That Supreme Lady Shakti, who is glorified as [the Giver] of Liberation, She is manifested

in the form of a woman” (Bhutashuddhi-tantra 7.17).

Love is the law, love under will.

(с) Arjuna Anandanatha, friend "Pan's Asylum Oasis" (arjunanandanatha@gmail.com)

08.06.05 e.v.