THE SEVEN PORTALS 76. Yea, he is mighty. The living power made free in him, that power which is HIMSELF, can raise the tab- ernacle of illusion high above the Gods, above great Brahm and Indra. Now he shall surely reach his great reward! The temptation at this point is to createan Universe. He is able: the necessity of so doing is strong within Him, and He may perhaps even imagine that He can make one which shall be free from the Three Characteristics. Evelyn Hall —an early love of mine—used to say: “God Almighty—or words to that effect—has no conscience”; and in the tre- mendous state of mind in which He is, a state of Cosmic priapism, He may very likely see red, care nothing for what may result to Himself or His victim, and, violently project- ing Himself on the Akasa, may fertilize it, and the Universe begin once more. In Liber I. it seems as if this must be done, as if it were part of the Work, and Liber Legis, if I understand it aught, would inculcate the same. For to US the Three Character- istics and the Four Noble Truths are lies—the laws of Illu- sion. Ours is the Palace of the Graal, not Klingsor’s Castle. 77. Shall he not use the gifts which it confers for his own rest and bliss, his well-earn’d weal and glory—he, the sub- duer of the Great Delusion? It is now seen that He should not do this, although He is able. He should on the contrary take up the burden of a Magus. This whole passage will be found in much clearer language in Liber One, Equinox VII. 78. Nay, O thou candidate for Nature’s hidden lore! If one would follow in the steps of holy Tathagata, those gifts and powers are not for Self. 121