Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

attack any problem soever, when he who has merely specialized has got into a groove, and can no longer adapt and adjust himself to new conditions. The principle is quite universal. You do not train a violonist to play the Beethoven Concerto 3 you train him to play every conceivable consecution of notes with perfect ease, and you keep him at the most monotonous drill possible for years and years before you allow him to go on the platform. You make of him an instrument perfectly able to adjust itself to any musical problem that may be set before him. This technique of Yoga is the most important detail of ail our work. The Master Therion has been himself somewhat to blâme in representing this technique as of value simply because it leads to the great rewards, such as Samadhi. He would hâve been wiser to base His teaching solely on the ground of évolution. But probably He thought of the words of the poet : UY ou dangle a canot in front of her no se. And she go es wherever the canot go es For, after ail, one cannot explain the necessity of the study of Latin either to imbécile children or to stupid educationalists; for, not having learned Latin, they hâve not developed the brains to learn anvthing. The Hindus, understanding these difficulties, hâve taken the God-Almighty attitude about the matter. If you go to a Hindu teacher, he treats you as less than an earthworm. You hâve to do this, and you hâve to do that, and you are not allowed to know why you are doing it. 1 After years of expérience in teaching, The Master Tuerion is not altogether convinced that this is not the right attitude. 1. This does not conflict with the “go-as-you-please” plan put forward in the previous note. An autocratie Adept is indeed a blessing to the disciple, not because he is able to guide the pupil “aright” in the particular path which happens to suit his personality, but because he can compel the beginner to grind away at the weariest work and thus acquire all-round ability, and prevent him from picking out the plums which please him from the Pie of Knowledge, and making himself sick of a surfeit of sweets to the neglect of a balanced diet of wholesome nourishment. 202