"Nothing is true. Everything is permissible".

"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hassan I Sabbah (Islamic / Ismaili mystic).




I was having a discussion with some friends recently regarding some of the more orthodox religions, especially the desert monotheistic religions. We came to the topic of rules, regulations, rewards and punishments, which seemed contrary to what the concept of a "loving God" would implement, let alone enforce.


Ultimately, one does need to think deeply about these apparent contradictions evident in almost all of the world's religions today- for only then can one be ready to challenge error and bring about correction which is needed in order for "religions" to actually carry out their purpose- the ending of the dream via happier dreams of Love.


The above quote came to mind, which I originally encountered a while back while delving into Chaos Magick, chaos theory and the like, but which purportedly stems back much farther into the recesses of Middle Eastern mysticism, secret Orders and those that "knew" but had to remain hidden due to persecuation by the orthodoxy of the time.


It really delivers a perfect summation of the whole universe, or the workings of phenomenality as they are apparent to us dualistic individuals trying to make desperate sense out of a senseless universe. There is no sense in it! Nothing is true -- all is in a constant state of change. And everything is permissible-- everything that exists MUST have been permitted by virtue of its very existence! How brief, but beautiful is that little quote.


Now when talking about nonduality, we are taking things to another level. A level where perhaps all is True and nothing is permissible (as there would be no apparent choice or a doer or cause within the changeless and eternal). But of course, religions, and pointers from the mystics were almost always aimed at dualistic individuals in an attempt to bring them to some form of awakening. And for that purpose they become useful.

The world and its destruction- daily!

It can happen: we are struck by the sheer monstrosity of "the world". A meaningless world, which appears much like a horror movie with characters and frightening scenes. Sometimes the movie becomes a black comedy though, due to the sheer stupidity of the way events and people play out in the world.

Beggars on the street, people scooping old cigarette butts from garbage bins, others sitting in McDonalds with food splattered on their faces, office workers "dressed-up" playing the part, shop workers running around frantically under the supervision of a "manager", cars blowing their horns because someone has blocked a traffic lane. No need to search for hell in the Middle East or Africa.

As Gurdjieff said, "The terror of the situation", and "all food for the moon".

Of perhaps as ACIM points out "A meaningless world engenders fear."

Or perhaps as the Chaos mages point out, the only reasonable response to an insane chaos universe is laughter.

I actually found my self enamoured with Lord BHAIRAVA today, the terror aspect of SHIVA, worshipped by several sects in Shaivism and Tantrism.

Bhairava stands for destruction and terror, but more importantly the destruction of the ordered, meaningful and yet impossible universe built by the logical mind (and egoic self). This also includes the universe that "needs to be saved" by "compassionate means", as some practitioners would say. Some tantric adherents intentionally "break all the rules" in an attempt to bring down the mind structure.

Destruction of the illusory universe (or maya) by various means also appears in Tibetan Buddhism through Vajrapani (a wrathful diety/bodhisattva) representing skilful means in attaining the goal of realization of Reality. Skilfull means includes any means, the test being effectiveness and success.

By invoking Bhairava, the dream-forms we have invested with reality (and thereby becoming both the beauty and horror duality of the world) are seen through, and thus destroyed instantly. This requires that we are working on a basis that the universe is instantly created each moment by our own (defective) mind- (the "drshti-shrsti-vada" view in Vedanta). Otherwise, taking the progressive creation view (srshti-drshti-vada), we need to take a more gradual approach to the destruction of our illusions that have taken lifetimes to crystalize.

But why the need to "destroy" the universe, since isn't it all part of the Wholeness or Nondual consciousness anyway? (says the Neo-Advaitin). True, but is that YOUR experience right now?

By invoking Bhairava, the terror of the situation is destroyed by the Lord of Terror.

As one side of a duality cannot exist without another, the Consciousness ("chit") side of reality becomes clearer (with the removal of the illusory side of the coin). Yet, even this is a duality (illusion+reality), yet a step in the right direction. This is surely felt by the instant feeling of peace ("ananda") which comes along with a higher degree of conscious awareness.

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