It was suggested to me recently that I ought to work on developing my discernment. Having been raised by a roving pack of wild Jesuits, whenever I think of the word "discernment", I think of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

However, not being a Christian (let alone a Catholic -- not that that stopped the two Hindus who have become Jesuits!), I have begun adapting the Spiritual Exercises to my own ends. Very roughly, two of the most important of these ends are (1) to move away from a sin-based understanding and towards a Will-based understanding, (2) to place the Roman god Antinous at the center of the work, and (3) to adapt the work from one based in the Æon of Asar to one based in the Æon of Heru.

Why Antinous? For one, he's awesome. For two, he's really hot. And, for three, there is at least one depiction from the ancient world that might syncretize him with both Dionusos and Yeshua bar-Yosef ho Christos ha Mashiach, all of whom shared similar Dying-and-Reborn stories.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Second Week: A Certain Prelude Concerning the Consideration of the Different States or Kinds of Life


*The example of Antinous having been above set before us concerning that kind of life which consists in recognizing the beauty of the world and our being part of that beautiful world and thus also being part of its beauty, and is called the first or kalokagathic state; now the same Liberator, while we are told of his taking of the Lesser Mysteries at Eleusis, appears to exhibit the form of the homotheotic or second state, which springs from taking an active role in the function of that world, and brings one perfection; when, that is to say, Hadrianus betook him to Eleusis that he might attend freely to his dharma. Wherefore it will be fitting here that we also, contemplating his life, should search out and intreat his guidance toward that peculiar kind of life, in which we might participate in our own majesty and, in doing so, the world's as well.

To the searching out, then, of this, we may be introduced by the next following Exercise, attending to the mind of Antinous, compared with that of Eris. We shall also learn thence, of what disposition we have need, that we may become perfect in that state, whatever it may be, which Ma'at shall have suggested to us for choice.





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* In the prelude after the contemplation of the third day, what is there said concerning the distinction of the two states will be put more clearly from the Autograph as follows: "The example of Antinous having been above set before us concerning that kind of life which consists in recognizing the beauty of the world and our being part of that beautiful world and thus also being part of its beauty, while we are told of his taking of the Lesser Mysteries at Eleusis, and is called the first or kalokagathic state; now the same Liberator himself appears to exhibit the form of the homotheotic or second state, which brings one perfection; when, that is to say, Hadrianus betook him to Eleusis" &c.
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