Thelema vs Buddhism

In this video I compare and contrast Thelema and Buddhism in terms of their moralities, their technologies of awakening, their aesthetics, and their purposes.

[ComicsFromScratch]

THELEMA VS BUDDHISM: Which fat bald guy will win???

[SynFactory]

Thank you so much for this, as somebody who really enjoys both Buddhism and Thelema, it was really appreciated!
I can see a lot of similarities, when you talk about the future of "Thelema", to the reformation that happened in Buddhism with the separation of Hinayana and Mahayana. In that case, let me generalize here, the focus passed from "my awakening" to "help other sentient being to awake". I also think that, the final "attainment" of Thelema, naming the Crossing of The Abyss, was and is strictrly correlated to the Buddhist conception of Awakening.

[oceanmachine]

Very awesome, Buddhism has been a lot on my mind lately (reading some Buddhist texts on my own channel).
The Buddhist angle of Thelema is not something that gets enough attention from outsiders which is curious, seeing how strongly it influenced the A.A. in particular (aside from the countless references in Crowley's work).

The overall ontology could be seen as similar though not the same, seeing that Thelema strives above all of the traditions/systems/religions that have informed it. Crowley was both very positive about Buddhism but had his valid criticisms. I remember one thing you mentioned on your video on dualism/monism/nihilism that the concepts in India at the time of Siddhartha were (of course) cyclical and taking in the grand endless view of the revolutions of the 'wheel of time'. Thelema coming post-Nietzsche both rejects and accepts such notions in light of modern scientific cosmology which means that many elements that pinned down Siddhartha were irrelevant to Crowley.

In terms of aim though there is a sense of similarity especially in the trajectory of Mahayana and especially Vajrayana. The deconstruction of sense perception, of conditioning, then the abyss where the "I" is released from it's chains, all has resonance with the aforementioned Buddhist schools.
Tantric schools as a whole (including Hindu such as Shaivite) are great Dharmic forebearers of Thelema.

[lynnpehrson]

Correct me im wrong, but in ideal circumstance ceremonial magick should function as mediation as well

[peterlambert]

Great video thanks. Have you studied Kants metaphysics of Morals? I think you will find a rough blue print of morality that Crowley used.

[soundhealingbygene]

thanks for such a great video on Thelma and Buddhism both are influential on my path.

[MidnightMind]

I started my spiritual journey studying Buddhism and found my way to Thelema. Thank you 😊

[inyourface]

my speaker was off when this video started and it was still too loud somehow

[urflamme]

Really enjoyed this - thank you. I don’t have anything to add except the point you make about feeling a lack of purpose in Buddhism is real for many. My experience is with the Vajrayana- and from my perspective Bodhicitta was always pushed as the „fuel“ to keep one focussed on the path - this was always in some way the self evident greater purpose. Once one loses this though - it can definitely make one question the point. Anyway, looking forward to enjoying more content from you.

[jean-francoisgagnon]

I live what you talk about, i used all i can to go back to life and it's works. Tank you Crowley!

[LotusJewelz]

I always thought Crowley's Thelema is like Buddhism made sexy.

[tylerwylde]

I have studied as a Thelemite for a few years now. I was lucky enough to find a master who taught me the value of meditation and samadhi. He guided me through a death/rebirth period I was going through this last year, and I'm a completely different man than I was. The ever upward spiral of the soul should be the main focus of any practitioner of any path.
Ad Altiora Tendo.
(Btw totally subscribed)

[mkultra]

I appreciate what you say about consistency, however I have a question if you don't mind. Within Thelema, is it acceptable to "system-hop" to gain an insight from a different tradition? I ask this because for a few years now I've been half-assing spiritual systems, jumping from one to another. A huge part of it is just simple curiosity, but a few weeks ago I realized that if I or anyone else wanted actual results there'd have to be a commitment. Does Crowley mention this phenomena? I don't know much about thelema (or Buddhism for that matter) so I hope this question makes sense. Wonderful video, and I hope this comment finds you well!

[Skygazer]

Your examples of Buddhist ethics and morality are in most ways precepts of monastic practice for monks and nuns, not necessarily "skillful means" for the lay Buddhist population. The unique problem that Buddhism is trying to solve is removal from human motivations of the seeming need to "solve" life and living. Putting to a stop the endless cycle of grasping for results and craving for "solutions" is the goal, with the realization that even grasping for the goal of enlightenment is, itself, part of the problem. Buddhism lives in that seemingly contradictory space. Enlightenment is the gut realization that you don't have to attain a spiritual/mental state you already have in your basic nature, but you can only experience through the difficult process of letting go of cravings and attachments.

[jackrowe]

Well done. Please keep making videos! 🌎☮️❤️🧘🏻‍♂️🔮

[kaliyugas]

All what is said here seems consistent if one admits "buddhism" as being westerned-approached theravada. But mahayana/vajrayana is much closer to thelema ( method and goal)! I agree that's there is a lot of work to get rid of cultural mistranslations to approach the indo-tibetan paradigma, but isn't thelema very demanding on this level too ( esoterism, multicultural références (777), antinomian vocabulary or attitudes, égyptian terminology though not compatible with égyptology....) ? I personaly decided not to go through the thelemic curriculum to be consistant with my engagements in vajrayana. Still I consider myself a littéralement "thelemite" in the sens that I take seriously the change of eon, crowley's philosophy and the end goal. The AA notion can be thought as equivalent ( perennial philosophy etc) to the guru lineages, the mahasiddhas ( commun to shaiva naths and kagyu schools). Even the yidams ( deity archétypes) seem to be of the same relevence if one understands it in a Jungian way. Isn't thelema known to be the tantrik path of the West? ( non duality, magickal techniques applied to spiritual goal...) ? Excuse my english I'm french...

[vincentharper]

Interesting and straight to the points. Always a highlight of my day when you post a video. Thank you. And this one (coupled with your recent post on Thelemic Union) is of immediate interest to me as I've been knocking around the idea of similar comparative analyses (Vendanta, Taoism, Shamanism, etc.) for an online lecture series exploring the history of religions and the historical roots of Thelema (and magick). I suppose I'll finally use my degree for something other than a wall decoration! Thanks again!

[johngold]

93! Hi, recently i was discouraged when I went to the Bornless channel to watch your voice-over video once again (Liber Librae). But it was not there, the channel was deleted. Do you know if the videos will be restored?

[MJ-ruiw]

Great name for the Channel "Entelechia"; I practice this regularly and it is part of my personal system as well i.e. entelechy--manifesting postulates into reality and making your dreams come true.

With that said your view is certainly from a Theravada angle and there is no way to know for sure if the Buddha rejected alcohol or permitted that one not overindulge; most of these ethical codes derive from the schools of Buddhism. In reality historically we are not even sure if the Buddha actually existed in flesh or if he actually made the philosophical statements within the Sutras or if these were from different individuals compiled into a series of texts since they were written centuries after the death of the Buddha, however, I do have faith with the oral tradition. According to the upper teachings of Buddhism called the Vajrayana, alcohol is permitted in the Tantras as well as sex and everything you are told you cannot have as an entry level Buddhist or if one is taking an extremely ascetic path. There is no solid proof Buddha existed since he was cremated.

As for Samadhi being the goal of Thelema I only see that as germane. The goal of Thelema is to obtain one's own True Will and live (or exist) according to that i.e. it is unique and relative to each individual and no two individuals have the same True Will let alone subjective reality. Our experiences are going to be different even if we practice the same meditation, religious system or read the same scripture; it's all subjective anyway.

The term True Will is ambiguous and has a plethora of definitions that Crowley elaborates on in each codex. The two popular definitions are that of one's own destiny and another that is more parallel to anatta than Samahdi however Samadhi could be a goal as well. Here Samadhi is a state of meditation or yoga and is achieved through meditation or yoga. Although Crowley was influenced by Buddhism and mention it in his grimoires it is not necessary to fulfill one's own True Will--it is only an example of a path that can lead to the accomplishment of the True Will. If anything the second definition of "living moment to moment in accordance to Nature" sounds more closely to one of the definitions of the condition of anatta. Anatta is more then just the doctrine of "No-self" or "No-soul" these are watered down, simplified and occidental explanations for what it actually means and its a little more complex than that.

All I can say is to keep studying and I will do the same. And like many human beings we there is plenty we agree on and some that will won't always see eye to eye with after all we are human.
We won't always know or have a specific answer however as modernists and Westerners people always want everything to be in a neat little box that is easy to explain, analyze and has a specific or direct meaning however both Buddhism and Thelema are not meant to be that way...they are Living Traditions.
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[fullmetalmagus]

This was great, I am a Thelemite with a long time practice of Zen.
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