MEET THE DEVIL
- Written by Sheldon John
Meet The Devil is a question-answer forum to break the myths and misconceptions about Satanism.
What are the beginnings of Satanism?
I would say there is no beginning or the end! The philosphy of Satanism has always existed!
The roots of the left hand path can be traced to ancient India. It also has its roots in Chinese thought of Yin-Yang. The intellectuals, mytics and the gnostics followed Tantrism or the Left hand Path.
What is Left-Hand Path?
Left Hand Path (LHP) is an approach to knowledge that is dark, hidden and receptive.It is the path of silence and inner-revealing through meditation. It is associated with personal experience and follows the policy of idealism. In other words, the knowledge is attained through personal study, observation and experience. It is also man-centered i.e based on the belief that man is the center of the universe.
The Left Hand Path and the Right Hand Path (RHP) aren't opposed to each other, but they are complement of each other. One cannot exist without another. Left Hand Path is concerned
with exploring the mysteries of darkness, the unkown and hidden. It's elements can be defind as being, feminine, passive, absorbing...
You see.. what we see opposites are actually complements in nature. Is man opppsite to woman? No! Opposite is what we percieve through our carnal senses, but move further and you will see the truth. We are the victims of illusion. Whoever said we are perfect!
Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. The approach of LHP was completely removed by the fundamental white-light religions. They thought it was something evil and of the devil, more so because it had feminine aspect. The element of feminity was and is even today completely removed by the fundamental religions. I don't need to dicuss about it. Look at the attitude of the Church even today. How many priests are women? Much can be written about it, the way women were treated by these zealous men in the name of religion. If only women knew...
I would say I'm neither just a follower of LHP or RHP. The wise approach is balance of both LHP and RHP. By combining their ideals, one can follow both. It is well-balanced and more rationalistic. I call it Middle Path.
What about Magic?
I'm quite sceptical about Magic because it is not a perfect science. It can never be one. I'm sceptical because there are hardly any real magicians. Most of them are just fraud.I do believe in powers of magic or what we commonly call miracle. It has more to do with will or mind power rather than books or incantation. Incantations or a ritual are just an accompaniment to the magic.
The real secret lies in directing and focusing the energy within you.
Believe it or not. It worked for me! You have the potentiality!
What has Satanism to do with Yin-Yang?
The Yin-Yang influence can be also felt in Satanism.The two opposite energies in Chinese thought, from whom whose interaction and fluctuation the universe and its diverse form emerge. They are the polar extremes of the unbounded Tao of the supreme and ultimate source, and theirr intermingling arise the five elements, which give rise to the myriads of forms and to history and time.
The Yin-Yang symbol expresses this interaction, with the two spots (white in the dark, dark in the white) indicating that each of the two contians the seed of the other and is about to produce the replication of it's opposite in interaction All oppositions can be mapped onto Yin-Yang.. Yin representing the feminine, yielding, soft, receptive, moon, water, clouds, even numbers, and the Yang- the masculine, hard, active, red, the sun, and odd numbers.
So you see, one cannot be defined without the existance of the other. Satanism for me is a balanced approach to both LHP and RHP. Yin-Yang is the symbol used to express this path.
What about the word 'Satan'? Isn't it always related to something evil.. something blatant?
There are reasons why this term is used. You will understand if you study this philosophy better. Let me with the origin of the 'Satan'
Satan is said to have originated from India. In Vedic sense, it is the construct of the two words, SAT (being) plus TAN (becoming). That is the middle path I was talking about!
In Jewish Mythology, Satan was said to be a messenger of god who would test their faith and accuse their sins before god if they failed! It was then thought to god's prosecutor. This is evident in the Book of Job. Satan was a testing spirit. As times change, so do our former perceptions, our habits, customs, meanings etc. Satan in Hebrew now meant 'enemy'. If you hate someone, you could call him Satan. This is where the idea begins- the idea that Satan is the spirit which is the enemy of god!
It is same with the word 'devil' and how it came to be synonymous with evil. The word Devil has its roots from the Indian word 'devi' which means god!. Later, under the influence of contacts of Indians with the Greeks, it assumed to mean diabolos or the slanderer, fiend etc..
Lucifer was name given by Roman poets to the planet Venus. Lucifer later became the personification of wisdom, the prince of air, morning star, the bearer of light.
Check any dictionary if you think I'm wrong! Venus is called 'the morning star' even today.
(learn more about Lucifer)
As you see, none of them have any origins thought to be evil. The erroneous dogma began with Jews. It is clear in the Bible. The Jews thought that they were special chosen of the mankind, that god had a very close personal relationship with them than others. As they were strict monothiestic, they believed only in one god whom they thought was the real one. Although Jewish religion didn't become a missionary religion, this thought had strong impact on Christianity which has Jewish roots. This was the attitude of the early church. I don't blame Jews for that. They were the tribes. The educated were mostly Rabbis who made their race feel very important, that god was their father etc. All this is well understood. But Christianity did much harm rather then good by taking this stance. They destroyed all the other cultures and came to regard their religion as the only true religion and true.Those who failed to comply had to face serious threats, often death.
PART TWO >>