03-20-2015, 12:33 PM
I didn't say that, they are different systems, different modes which although they may have the same ideal take different routes. Meditation is a large part of Golden Dawn curriculum. Same as in Buddhism where they also learn elaborate rituals. Meditation and self-initiation are not the same things.
The purpose of physical ritual is to engage the body and include it in the working. The other purpose is for group work and activity. The third is as a point of focus. The fourth is as a drama. Ritual drama is seen to parallel the stories of the consciousness so by going through a ritual drama you can easily invoke particular elements of the consciousness that you may grasp them.
Properly, ritual can be seen as a type of very concentrated, focused meditation. It does seem that most people fall in to one side or the other, however. Either people tend to be more ceremonial, ritual oriented, or they tend to be more focused on pure will and meditation. That's what I have noticed anyways. That being said, no way is "more right" than another, but they are different methods with different techniques and experiences along their paths.
I was referring specifically that the Golden Dawn system is not designed for self-initiation so much, not that self-initiation isn't valid.
The purpose of physical ritual is to engage the body and include it in the working. The other purpose is for group work and activity. The third is as a point of focus. The fourth is as a drama. Ritual drama is seen to parallel the stories of the consciousness so by going through a ritual drama you can easily invoke particular elements of the consciousness that you may grasp them.
Properly, ritual can be seen as a type of very concentrated, focused meditation. It does seem that most people fall in to one side or the other, however. Either people tend to be more ceremonial, ritual oriented, or they tend to be more focused on pure will and meditation. That's what I have noticed anyways. That being said, no way is "more right" than another, but they are different methods with different techniques and experiences along their paths.
I was referring specifically that the Golden Dawn system is not designed for self-initiation so much, not that self-initiation isn't valid.