From: jasonp@sunbabe.Prime.COM (Jason Pascucci)
Subject: Re: Sorry but...
Organization: ComputerVision Services
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 02:56:58 GMT

Actually, there is no christian church, per se. It depends
on which particular sect to which you belong. 

The Roman Catholic Church tends to frown on all kinds of
such excercises. For example, meditation on the Bible,
or a particular prayer, is okay, but meditation to 'blank
the mind' would be bad because of the chance of demonic posession. 
However, some sects, which don't believe in demonic
posession in this case, would feel that this is just fine. 
It's all a matter of theology, and if you can give me a little more
background, I can probably recall the appropriate theology,
so you can make a T.C. (theologically-correct) decision. More 
appropriately, however, is that you should go and study your sect's
theology, and see what it has to say, and decide for yourself. 

Your question is fairly base, but it underlies a vastly more important
problem. There is a tremendous question you have to ask yourself before
you embark on any serious study of 'mind expansion techniques',
which is Do you believe that everything that your Church tells you
is perfectly true...do you believe, for example, in
the infalliability of the Pope and other theological leaders? 
Do you honestly believe in hell? Do you believe you can go to this 
hell because you experimented with Magick? 

Do you not classify, or are you as unsure as you seem,
'Mind Expansion Techniques' as magick? Do you feel that
if you were to experiment with Mind Expansion Techniques
that you will go to hell? Do you feel that the study/scientific
inquiry of other religions will send you to hell? How about their 
practice? Do you believe in God, the Father, Creator of
Heaven and Earth, of All that is Seen and Unseen? Do you
believe in Jesus Chris, Lord, through whom all good things come?
Do you believe in the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of
Sins, and Life Everlasting? Do these beliefs contradict,
rule out, or otherwise perclude a study of magick, in any of
it's forms?

Would you really like to turn away from the Judeo-Christian
conception of God, if just for a moment, just to see what would
happen? Do you need a safety net, or simply someone to blame? 

Then blame me. I tell you that no matter what you do, you can always 
recant. You can always ask forgiveness, and you will always
recieve it. I tell you that you do no wrong when you follow your 
feelings, your will...your conscience isn't there for nothing. I tell 
you that there are many religions out there, and there is truth
in all of them. 

I tell you that beyond the veil which lines the Sanctum Sanctorum 
lies knowledge, and perhaps enlightenment. I tell you Ignorance is 
Bliss, but Knowledge brings Joy.

I speak in the name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in mine own name. How can I do this but if I believe? I believe 
in truth. I recanted my belief in the Roman Catholic God, and I now 
see His truth. I am now closer to God than I have ever been.I was truly
lost, and am found, blind but now sighted. Enlightenment is the key,
Enlightenment which goes beyond knowledge, belief, wisdom. Initiation 
brings Enlighenment, and True Initiation yeilds True Enlightenment. 

My goodness...I feel like saying 'Yea Verily'. I should stop
taking myself so seriously. Basically, Do What Thou Will,
and let not anybody say you nay. It makes things less complicated.

--
Jason R. Pascucci
jasonp@primerd.prime.com
(508)620-2800x3530

One spring day, a Zen Master
Walked down a secluded lane. 
He came across a perfect cherry-blossom, as yet unbloomed. 
He picked it off the tree, and stamped it into the ground. 
A year later, the Master walked down the lane, only to find it 
had sprouted, and was becoming a tree, right in the middle of the path. 
He gingerly stepped around it thereafter, because it was in it's 
rightful place. 
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