SUBCONSCIOUS

All religions preach
some form of self-denial. In the early days, when religions were aware of their
true purpose, which was to teach people the control of their subconscious, this
was the easiest means – for most people the only means – of so doing. I am not
referring to physical self-denial, such as fasting, but to such prohibitions as
not seeking revenge, even for a keenly-felt injustice. Whilst people are
concerned with feuds, rivalry, disagreements, their subconscious rules supreme
and they will never achieve ascendancy over it or even comprehension of it. So
the subconscious would much rather have its host embroiled in struggle of any
kind, for any purpose, because that will lave no energy for the one essential
without which there is no progress: the mastery of the subconscious.

As time passed and
understanding was suppressed, self-denial became practised for its own sake and
few realised the purpose behind it. Orthodox religions became trapped within
their own empires. The leaders did not want any of their adherents to progress
towards Adepthood, because such people within a religion would become a focus
for schism and thereby distract from the power, prestige and wealth of those at
the top.

Only a
non-established way, generally known as Occultism, is now able to comprehend
the possibility that some of its followers could some day achieve the
enlightenment popularly known as Crossing the Abyss. This is because there are
no High Priests to be dethroned. Of course there are leaders within Occultism,
but a general guideline is that, the more magnificent the title, the less
possibility that he/she will be able to teach anyone anything of use in this
quest.

Inevitably the
orthodox religions fear those who practise the methods which they no longer
dare contemplate, who aspire to an achievement which, in past millennia, was
the goal of every religion. When knowledge is eclipsed, fear moves in. The
individuals – for it is only individuals who matter within Occultism – who are
capable of understanding the real purpose of their work, are a threat to the
established order of things and those who seek to maintain it. This is not
because they would incite revolt; that is not the way of the Adept. It is not
because of what he would do, for he would do nothing. It is his existence that
is feared, because that conveys the message to all those capable of
understanding. If one person can liberate himself from the bonds of Earth, it
is also possible for others do so.

Anonymous article taken from the Dark Lily Journal No 10, Society
of Dark Lily (London 1990).