the Equinox - The Hermetic Library

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING
of Enjoyment, Religion and Knowledge are expounded at
some considerable length. Above all the Yogi “should work
like a master and not like a slave.”*
HATHA YOGA. Union by Courage.
It matters not what attainment the aspirant seeks to gain,
or what goal he has in view, the one thing above all others
which is necessary is a healthy body, and a body which is
under control. It is hopeless to attempt to obtain stability of
mind in one whose body is ever leaping from land to water
like a frog; with such, any sudden influx of illumination may
bring with it not enlightenment but mania; there fore it is that
all the great masters have set the task of courage before that of
endeavour.† He who dares to will, will will to know, and
knowing will keep silence;‡ for even to such as have entered
the Supreme Order, there is not way found whereby they may
break the stillness and communicate to those who have not
ceased to hear.§ The guardian of the Temple is Adonai, he
alone holds the key of the Portal, seek it of Him, for there is
none other that can open for thee the door.
Now to dare much is to will a little, so it comes about that
though Hatha Yoga is the physical Yoga which teaches the
aspirant how to control his body, yet is it also Raja Yoga
* Vivekânanda, “Karma-Yoga,” p. 62.
† As in the case of Jesus, the aspirant, for the joy that is set before him,
must dare to endure the cross, despising the shame; if he would be “set down
at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews, xii, 2.
‡ “If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let
him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians, xiv, 28) has more than one
meaning.
§ "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
about the space of half and hour" (Rev. viii, 1).
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