The Equinox (Volume III, Number I)

LIBER LXXI THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE [FRAGMENT I “FROM THE BOOK OF THE GOLDEN PRECEPTS”] [Madame Blavatsky’s notes are omitted in this edition, as they are diffuse, full of inaccuracies, and intended to mis- lead the presumptuous.—Eb.] 1. These instructions are for those ignorant of the dan- gers of the lower Iddhi (magical powers). Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Nothing less can satisfy than this Motion in your orbit. It is important to reject any Iddhi of which you may be- come possessed. Firstly, because of the wasting of energy, which should rather be concentrated on further advance; and secondly, because Iddhi are in many cases so seductive that they lead the unwary to forget altogether the real purpose of their endeavours. The Student must be prepared for temptations of the most extraordinary subtlety; as the Scriptures of the Christians mystically put it, in their queer but often illuminating jar- gon, the Devil can disguise himself as an Angel of Light. A species of parenthesis is necessary thus early in this Comment. One must warn the reader that he is going to swim in very deep waters. To begin with, it is assumed 7