The One Year Manual.pdf

Contents

First published as

Twelve Steps to Spiritual Enlightenment

by the Sangreal Foundation, 1969

First Samuel Weiser paperback 1975

Preface, ix

The Four Adorations, 1

Body Awareness, 5

Relaxation, 9

Rhythmic Breathing, 15

Mind Awareness, 21

Concentration, Use of the Mantram, 25

Developing the Will, 29

The Rose Cross Ritual, 33

The Middle Pillar Ritual, 39

Symbol of Devotion, 47

Practice of the Presence of God, 51

Unity-All is God, 57

Invoke Often! Inflame Thyself with Prayer, 63

Epilogue, 69

Recommended Reading, 71

Bibliography, 73

This revised edition 1981 by

Samuel Weiser, Inc.

Box 612

York Beach, Maine 03910

Reprinted, 1990

No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmit-

ted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopy, without permission in writing from

Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN 0-87728-301-X

Cover painting is entitled "The Ascent,"

Typeset in 11 point Sabon

Printed in the United States of America by

Baker Johnson, Inc.

Gratefully dedicated to

CARR P. COLLINS, JR.

who suggested and inspired this book,

and without whom it would never have been written —

or completed!

PREFACE

THIS BOOK WAS FORMERLY

entitled Twelve Steps to Spiritual Enlightment. Insofar as it

was intended to be a manual delineating a course of practical

study to extend over a period of at least twelve months, that

title seems rather presumptuous. It had been my original in-

tention to entitle it The One Year Manual. The title describes

the nature of the book without any pretensions, assumptions

or exaggerated claims.

Several experiences wrankled in my mind not only about

the title but by the Christian references which were really quite

foreign to my outlook. The first blow came when a psychol-

ogist living in Florida corresponded with me about a couple of

my other books. Then she chanced upon the Twelve Steps to

Spiritual Enlightenment. It so annoyed her that she wrote me

most emphatically about her disapproval. There was nothing I

could do honestly but to write back agreeing with her and ad-

mitting that I had no great liking for these Christian references

either.

Sometime after that there was an editorial in a small

British magazine Agape with whose editor there had been oc-

casional correspondence. This editorial was most critical of

both me and the book. It made me realize the enormity of my

error and how far I had strayed from what was really accep-

table to me.

There were several others that hammered home the

point.

x / THE ONE YEAR MANUAL

Preface / xi

The error consisted simply of being too susceptible to the

suggestions of well-meaning friends. It was their contention

that the inclusion of Thelemic, Egyptian and other pagan allu-

sions, might prove difficult to accept by some readers. Today

it bothers me somewhat to admit that I was swayed by this

specious argument. It was also suggested that if Christian

items were to replace those mentioned above it would insure a

wider circulation and sale of this book.

The outcome of all this is the revision of the book in the

form originally intended before close and dear friends sug-

gested modifications of one kind or another. Most of the

material is identical with that in Twelve Steps. The slant,

however, is totally different and may appeal to a different

group of students. In its present form it adheres more closely

to my original intention, and so is more to my own liking.

As previously stated, this manual delineates a course of

practical study to extend over a period of at least twelve

months. Theoretically, it is designed for the ideal student.

Since, however, there is no such "ideal", each student

represents a different problem. Each is a unique personality

with his own character-structure, his own idiosyncracies and

his own way of solving problems in a certain amount of time.

No two students are alike.

Under these circumstances, it must be self-evident that

though designed for a twelve month period, it is more likely

that the student may need to spend a good five years working

with these simple methods. Some exercises may be completed

and mastered in the month prescribed. Other procedures may

require anywhere from three months to a year before any real

mastery or noticeable result is achieved. It is important

therefore to stress patience as a supreme necessity where this

course of study is concerned. Some exercises have as a secon-

dary gain the acquisition of a higher degree of patience.

It would be of infinite value if, while working these exer-

cises, the student kept what I propose to call a Day Book. In

accounting procedures, the Day Book is a journal in which are

entered all the transactions of the day, regardless of what they

are. In this Day Book, or Work Book, that we are considering,

the student should keep a detailed record of every practice that

he engages in. Immediately after performing every exercise, he

should take a couple of minutes from his next task in order to

make entries in this Day Book. He should record the date and

time of the day, the particular exercise he practiced, how

many minutes were devoted to it, what he felt about the man-

ner in which he proceeded, any experiences that may have oc-

curred, and finally his evaluation of the period itself. It might

even be worthwhile recording some extraneous data, such as

the kind of weather prevailing, the temperature within the

room in which he is working and the general emotional mood,

etc.

If this Day Book is scrupulously kept, at the expiration of

a year, regardless of whether it is seen or examined by any

other person, the student will eventually be able to look at his

efforts with fair objectivity. It may come as a distinct surprise

to read through some of his early comments on his first ex-

periences and efforts. He may even perceive a psychological

pattern running through all his exercises and whatever results

accrue from them. No little insight can be obtained from this.

The keeping of the Day Book, therefore, is a matter of prime

importance. Meticulous attention should be given to it right

from the start.

The occult student, at the outset of his studies, is besieged

by hundreds of books describing dozens of practices of every

kind. They promise, directly or otherwise, to bring him to the

very heights of spiritual attainment, no matter how that at-

tainment is defined. But by the very wealth of material is he

overwhelmed. And the result is that, generally speaking, he

does nothing except read. Reading does very little to bring one

to any kind of realization of one's divine nature.

In this manual, it is proposed to burden the student with

These simple injunctions require little elaboration. Make

haste slowly would be the ideal maxim for every student to

adopt when starting to study and practice this scheme. It will

pay optimal dividends in the end.

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: