illumination

From: Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_bigfoot.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 19:55:29 +1200


Peter Larsen:

> >As for the popularity of Nysalor: [example snipped]

>But the Upward Growing Free Spirit philosophy seems to have had
>support from all levels of society (FS 20), and the name, at least, sounds
>mystic (doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else though).

The Upward Growing Free Spirit movement predates the Sunstop and thus isn't an example of Nysalor's popularity.

> >I also should point out that manifest mysticism does not seek
> >release from the world but rather unification with it. Despite
> >this, it is not corrupt.

>But manifest mystics are given a philosophical grounding to guide
>them through the Illumination experience. Illuminates do it on their
>own, it seems, and don't do so well.

Yes, but that's the description of Illumination in the _rules_ which describes it as it is _now_. Given that:

         We do not know exactly what Nysalor preached.  His original
         teachings, and nearly all who knew them were destroyed.
         Years spent in destroying all traces were very efficient
         leaving only a couple of Secret Doctrines.
                         FS p77

I do not think it likely that the Nysalorans of the Bright Empire became illuminated without any philosophical grounding. IMO Nysalor _did_ teach the necessary philosophical grounding (and related stuff) and that there was nothing was with his path of wisdom (beyond the typical abuse that rival mystical paths fling at each other). When his teaching was eradicated, the asking of Riddles (a Secret Doctrine) _survived_ simply because it could conceal itself. Illuminates (in the HW definition) are unhinged because they do not have access to the philosophical teachings that Nysalor taught.

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