Re: Digest Number 638

["Jason Paris" <jambay53@...>]

Dear Mark,

> As you run this group, you are well aware that an incredible number
of the trainee magi *are* impressionable and furthermore many have
difficulty understanding and comprehending many *simple* instructions
of magical training. 

When you state that *you* as the leader of this group have a postive
experince of what is ultimately and *unquestionably* a neagtive vice
you are opening the floodgates and acting irresponsibly. <

1. An "incredible number"? 

At the time of writing there were 604 subscribers to this forum. 

Speculating on the percentage of those who are sufficiently
"impressionable" to go rushing through those "floodgates" in a frantic
bid to imitate Rawn's smoking.......I suspect the number dwindles
towards, oh, ZERO.

2. I further suspect that few of the subscribers to this forum are
still wearing diapers. Most of us are capable of making well-reasoned
decisions regarding personal matters.

3. On the matter of "unquestionably negative" behaviours, whether
it's smoking or masturbating or driving a car or eating meat or
chain-sawing peoples' limbs off...... all behaviours simply *are*. 

It's for *the individual* - by exercising his/her conscience - to
decide whether these things are "good" or "bad".

Surely the earliest parts of IIH make that plain:

* The introduction to Step One: "Refrain from condemning or
criticizing and sweep your own doorstep first"

* The preparation of the Soul Mirrors in Step 1.


All the best,

Jason