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Aleister Crowley's Education

To: alt.magick,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick.moderated,alt.philosophy.taoism,talk.religion.misc,soc.culture.china,alt.consciousness,alt.thelema
From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (xiwangmu)
Subject: Aleister Crowley's Education (Re: misdirections (i ching and tarot 2)
Date: 23 Apr 1996 21:44:36 -0700

49960423 kaos day

sv :
|>Crowley also travelleed extensively in China. His work with the I Ching was 
|>prompted by two factors; firstly it was _not_ covered in the GD material, 

I think it had been newly translated by Legge when Crowley got hold of it,
and many Sinologists no longer regard Legge's translations, while perhaps
well-intended, as completely authoritative.


|>the opportunity existed to break some new ground (at least as far as western 
|>occultism was concerned). Of course it was also an opportunity to make a name 
|>for himself...

I think this may have been somewhat of the motivation, yes.  Crowley seems to
have been stricken with a craving for notoriety.  Likely a common Victorian
pursuit.  Perhaps inspirational to some who participate here.


heidrick@well.sf.ca.us (Bill Heidrick):
|I wouldn't stress the educational quality of Crowley's China Walk.  He
|was mainly working on A.'.A.'. attainment and his account shows little
|understanding of the Chinese cultures -- or even awareness that there are
|many different Chinese cultures.  

That explains his (Mathers-like? :>) interpretation of _Tao Teh King_
and his (limited?) explanation of 'yoga'.  I invite criticism through Xpost.


|His interest in orientalia may have been sparked by his studies with Alan 
|Bennett.  His sources were translations, often well adapted by his 
|observations from a non-practising-Christian viewpoint.

Didn't he synthesize much of this for some of his rites he created too?
I mean, looking across the range of his exposure, was he absorptive of
particular ritual qualities and persuasions?  For a time I remember he
was taken with Buddhism, for example, and later with Islam.


|He did obscure some matters deliberately, mainly proforma matter of
|initiation in groups and matters even he considered inflamatory to the
|post Victorian mind.

Which were the most prevalent and inflammatory of those of which you 
are mentioning here?

E6/6/6
mu
--
corrections welcome.  i sometimes speculate wildly ;>

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