Opening the Vessel

As we have already discussed, any being that arises as a possibility, a potential to manifest awareness, is a vessel, or rather a collection of vessels — originally striving to be filled with Light. The very process — the actualization of potentials and awareness — is not as simple as it appears at first glance.

Put differently, although we are born with the single purpose of knowing, of becoming aware of the world and thereby becoming aware of ourselves as a distinct being in that world, on the road to that awareness lies our closedness, our inner blindness to the world and its manifestations.

For the Light to enter the vessel, it is not enough that the vessel be ready to receive the Light (although that condition absolutely must be met); the vessel must also open to the Light. Although our nature is pure consciousness, it is closed, confined within boundaries set by itself.

Since, by virtue of Shvirat Kelim, a necessary condition for the development of the Great Spirit is the differential filling of being with mind, there operates in the world a separating Power, Naxash, which prevents the Light from entering the vessels, “sealing” the vessels against receiving the Light until the moment of their mutual readiness.

Specifically, besides the stage of the “creation” of the vessel, development also requires the “opening” of that vessel. Very often a developing mind limits itself to the mere creation of the vessel and is greatly surprised why Power does not immediately flow into it. This happens because every newly created vessel is at first “closed” — this is the natural condition of its creation — since the arising of a vessel is the differentiation of its contents from the unity of the World environment, which is possible only when the “walls” of the original vessel are solid and sealed. Mythological systems compare the “creation” of the vessel to the birth of a “bride”, and the “opening” of that vessel to her defloration.

To put it simply, the mind, in order to maintain its individuality, asserts its separateness, and seeks that separateness by separating itself from everything else and sometimes even opposing itself to the cosmos. In this way it closes in on itself, becomes absorbed in itself, which is described as the state of a closed vessel. At the same time, such a self-centered mind is utterly incapable of free perception and expansion, and all it perceives are descriptions and images it creates from the echoes of the great play of energies that reach it. This condition is expressed in the famous words of the Tibetan yogi Milarepa: “we do not see the world, but the contents of our minds.” For the mind to become capable of free contact with the energies it should be aware of, or, which is the same thing, for the Light to be able to enter the Vessel, it must stop centering on itself; it must tear its gaze away from itself and direct it — toward the world.

Thus, Magical development naturally includes two elements — “training”, which implies the creation of vessels for new Powers, and “Initiation” — that is, the opening of those vessels so they may receive Power.

Put differently, the loan of Power conferred during Initiation is precisely necessary to destroy the barrier standing between the vessel and the Light. Moreover, the very “Initiation” may be either a formal ritual, a Mystery, or a simple interaction with a Master who possesses the required level of development and the necessary degree of resonance with the student.

Note that, owing to the infinite variety of vessels — their uniqueness and individuality — a great number of approaches, methods, and techniques for opening them is required. Approaches or methods that “open” one mind may be ineffective for another. It is therefore unsurprising that there exists such a large number of schools, currents, lines, and teachers — this diversity is absolutely necessary because of the diversity of vessels. Namely, it is impossible to find the “most effective”, universal method suitable for everyone. There are as many Ways as there are wayfarers. Therefore, even when it seems that different teachers say the same thing, this does not mean one can learn from just any of them. For each student, there must be found a teacher suited to them personally — not “the wisest”, not “the most correct”, but his personal Master. Only one who has a deep inner affinity with the student can ensure direct contact between their mind and the Light, or, which is the same, can open the Vessel of his mind. And for every student who sets out on the Way of development this stage is absolutely necessary — the direct introduction of his mind into the nature of the Light, the establishment of direct contact with Power, by reference to which he will be able to develop and expand the field of that interaction, enlarging the boundaries of his mind — ultimately — to the size of the universe.