RIGHT HAND PATH AND LEFT HAND PATH

[Myriel RAouine]

RIGHT HAND PATH AND LEFT HAND PATH

 The terms "right-hand path" and "left-hand path" originate in India with the metaphysical discipline of Tantra, and are used in both the Hindu and Buddhist forms of this practice. Left-hand Tantra (Vamachara in Sanskrit) differs from right-hand Tantra (Dakshinachara) by the use of elemental sacraments in rituals. Left-hand Tantra uses the actual sacraments while right-hand Tantra uses symbolic substitutes. Left-hand Tantra employs tools and practices that are taboo in Hindu Brahmin society. Based on these original concepts of explicit and implicit worship, to give a Wiccan analogy, the Great Rite performed symbolically using the chalice and athame is a right-hand ritual. When the High Priest and High Priestess perform the Union by actually having sex, it is a left-hand ritual.

 The right-hand Tantrics often view the left-hand Tantrics with suspicion, given their violation of social taboos by their sex rites, beef eating, and alcohol drinking. In the West for centuries, things associated with the left and left-handedness have had a social stigma. This is even reflected in the English language with the word "sinister", which is the Latin word for "left". In the late 1800s, H.P. Blavatsky incorporated many aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism in her work. She either misunderstood or deliberately changed the meaning of the term "Vamachara", as the right-hand Tantrics' suspicion suited her Theosophical ideas. She mentioned the term "left-hand" throughout her books as being synonymous with "evil" or "black" magick, and "right-hand" as being synonymous with "good" or "white" magick. Madame Blavatsky was highly influential to Western occultism. Today many magick practitioners and adherents to esoteric doctrine take it for granted that "left-hand path" means "bad" and "right-hand path" means "good", without knowledge of their original context.

 In today's occultism, these terms can only be generalizations and simplifications. There are some magical and occult organizations that apply the term "left-hand path" to themselves, with definitions, beliefs, and practices varying from organization to organization. When people who consider themselves "right-hand path" magicians use the term "left-hand path", it often means little more than "we don't like what they do" and is an attempt to demonize the others. Similarly, when self-described "left-hand pathers" call people "right-hand pathers" they often mean they think those people are too conservative in their approach. Interestingly, "left" also means a more liberal approach in Western politics as well.

 Magically speaking, the difference between the left-hand path and right-hand path are modes of operation, methods. Generally, the left-hand path is more explicit, direct, and carnal in practice, if not in spiritual objective. The right-hand path is more orderly, passive, and socially conventional, and in the opinion of its practitioners more in tune with a spiritual aspiration. The middle path strives for balance and moderation, partaking of methods and views from both left and right, to form a synthesis. The over-arching goal is improvement of self and/or world; just the imagery and rituals differ. However, it must be pointed out, as in all occult practices, there are exceptions and occasionally extreme views about these matters, and certainly some practitioners have adopted Blavatsky's distorted image of the left-hand path as a fulfillment of a personal aspiration to oppose what others identify as the good

 

http://www.asiya.org/bos/rightandlefthandpath.html