The Grail
"Raising themselves to that height, they see the Good. And having seen the Good, they deem the sojourn here on earth a thing to be deplored; and having scorned all beings corporeal and incorporeal, they press on to reach the One-and-Only." -- Corpus Hermeticum, IV
Hermes, who wrote in advance of the Christian story, spoke of the Krater, a symbolic vessel descending from heaven, from the One-and-Only, in which those who will can immerse themselves (or drink from) and receive "a share of gnosis" [the knowledge of God].
"He filled a great Krater with intellect, and sent it down to earth; and he appointed a herald, and bade him make proclamation to the hearts of men: `Dip yourself in this Krater, you who are able; you who believe that you will ascend to Him who sent this Krater down; you who know for what purpose you have been born.' " -- Corpus Hermeticum, IV
He reflects that most do not do so "since their temper is in a state of passion and anger."
"Nay, the vision of the Good is not a thing of fire, as are the sun's rays; it does not blaze down upon us and force us to close our eyes; it shines forth much or little according to the capacity of him who can receive the inflow of the intelligible radiance." -- Corpus Hermeticum, X, (my emphasis)
In one sense, we are the vessel, the cup; hence my emphasis above on our own capacity. We cannot be filled unless we are empty. Empty of greed (lust, desire) and hostility (anger). Empty of wanting what we do not have. Empty of not wanting what we do have. Empty of stupor (ignore-ance). Empty of "the world's" agenda.
Any warrior worthy of the name is on a Grail (Krater) quest, this spiritual receptacle that "comes down from heaven" into which one dives and is bathed, cleansed of all impurity; the cup from which one drinks, satisfying the aching thirst that has plagued one all this earthly life.
All Grail knights (warriors of spirit) both look for and look to become the Grail, the Krater.
Hermes, who wrote in advance of the Christian story, spoke of the Krater, a symbolic vessel descending from heaven, from the One-and-Only, in which those who will can immerse themselves (or drink from) and receive "a share of gnosis" [the knowledge of God].
"He filled a great Krater with intellect, and sent it down to earth; and he appointed a herald, and bade him make proclamation to the hearts of men: `Dip yourself in this Krater, you who are able; you who believe that you will ascend to Him who sent this Krater down; you who know for what purpose you have been born.' " -- Corpus Hermeticum, IV
He reflects that most do not do so "since their temper is in a state of passion and anger."
"Nay, the vision of the Good is not a thing of fire, as are the sun's rays; it does not blaze down upon us and force us to close our eyes; it shines forth much or little according to the capacity of him who can receive the inflow of the intelligible radiance." -- Corpus Hermeticum, X, (my emphasis)
In one sense, we are the vessel, the cup; hence my emphasis above on our own capacity. We cannot be filled unless we are empty. Empty of greed (lust, desire) and hostility (anger). Empty of wanting what we do not have. Empty of not wanting what we do have. Empty of stupor (ignore-ance). Empty of "the world's" agenda.
Any warrior worthy of the name is on a Grail (Krater) quest, this spiritual receptacle that "comes down from heaven" into which one dives and is bathed, cleansed of all impurity; the cup from which one drinks, satisfying the aching thirst that has plagued one all this earthly life.
All Grail knights (warriors of spirit) both look for and look to become the Grail, the Krater.
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