There are several prerequisites for attempting to study the writings of the Temple. Foremost amongst these is an understanding of the types and methods of communication of information being used in these writings. Most people today have never undertaken a rigorous assessment and study of their own methods of acquiring and processing information, and are often unaware of the mechanics of such processes within themselves. They often find themselves awash in a sea of indoctrinated and propagandized methods of cognition which trap their minds into the service of something other than their Spirit, all the while thinking that their thoughts and conclusions are ‘their own’. They certainly are not.

The Temple teaches by means of direct Experiential and Spiritual Knowledge which is accomplished through a ritualized program of living one’s life. This teaching methods unfolds the Harmonia of the Principles and the Wisdom of one’s own Spirit gradually and incrementally into one’s Persona and life. If one does not thoroughly contemplate this, and the postulates which follow, then one will have a difficult time understanding even the less complex writings of the Temple.

There is Simple Knowledge, which is simply the repetition of what one has been told.

There is Theoretical Knowledge, which is using the mind to imagine possibilities which may, or may, not be true.

There is Experiential Knowledge, which is taught from the observation of the result of action within the Imperium of Nature.

And there is Spiritual Knowledge, which is direct insight from one’s own Spirit to the mind of the Persona which takes place in a manner outside of the capabilities of that same mind, often through the Fires and the Waters.

These different types of knowledge, and the means of acquiring it, are listed in order of their veracity, from least to most. The lower one is on the list, the more one thinks one knows. The higher one navigates on the list, the more one realizes how little one actually knows.

Simple and Theoretical levels are considered to be Common Knowledge, while Experiential and Spiritual levels of knowledge are more often called Wisdom. Common Knowledge can be taught in books with written words. Wisdom can only be recognized in the written word by those who have also attained unto it, and cannot be taught to those who lack it by such a means.

Those who dwell in lower forms of knowledge cannot see or understand the forms of knowledge which are above their capacity to comprehend, nor do they place much value in the words of people who speak from such places. Most humans live in the realm of Simple Knowledge, and spend their whole life there, while at the same time they are unaware of the source of what they think they know. Many of these will also dabble in Theoretical Knowledge of a poor and simple type, devoid of the rigorous rules of the art of logic. A few exceptional ones will actually apply true logic to their machinations, as with the best of those involved in the so-called sciences. But of course, even these scientists, so-called, cannot see the value of even the most simple experiences as a means of informing one’s knowledge, and so they pit their theorems, which forever pretend to be laws, against the wisdom of Principles, which are born out of the higher forms of knowledge.

The most shallow and authoritarian people who seek to control and command not just their own knowledge, but that also of everyone else, are those who practice Theoretical Knowledge, but most especially the scientists, psychologists and doctors. They are the more intellectual cousins of their primitive ancestors, the Monotheists and religious fundamentalists, who seek to dominate the minds of people by the control of Simple Knowledge, and what people are told and taught, without letting them experience anything for themselves.

Deviousness is different from knowledge, in that even the most simple-minded of people can be very devious in their nature and intent. Type of knowledge is not a prerequisite for deviousness and deceit. Deviousness and deceit are qualities of Soul, and by extension Spirit - not Knowledge.

Source of information and intention of communication are as important as the information being communicated. Nothing in the universe is communicated without purpose, meaning and intent. Often the meaning of a communication may be designed, intentionally or otherwise, to obscure the true purpose and intent of the communication, when deviousness or deceit are involved. Conversely, communications from one’s Spirit or other higher sources of spirit do not involve deceit or deviousness in any way. However, these truthful communications may seem obscure or unintelligible to those who do not yet have the capacity for the understanding of the message. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Adept to be aware of this possibility, and to begin to understand in his or her Waters the difference between an Arcanum, and a deceit.

A Truth describes the spiritual nature and purpose of a thing in a simple and completely accurate manner. For example, in one’s incarnation, one’s Truth is synonymous with the Will or purpose of one’s incarnation. Truth, therefore, is a function of Spirit, manifest in the material realm in such a way that those who encounter the truth of a thing, and who also have the capacity to observe it, will resonate with an immediate inner understanding akin to revelation. This feeling of recognition or revelation is the affect in the Waters of one’s own Spirit recognizing the veracity of something on a spiritual level. In other words, one is able to sense and recognize the spiritual source and genuineness of the truth through the discerning faculties of one’s own Spirit.

The closer one comes in understanding to the source of Truth, the simpler and more elegant the words will be to convey that truth. The further one is from the Truth, the more complex will be the explanation in order to attempt to bring them forward in their understanding. There is a simple elegance to Wisdom, and an insufferable complexity to knowledge and science. In addition, the further one is from Truth, the more one will desire to lord their knowledge over others in litigation and argumentation, their goal being to sway the other by belief and conviction to support their falsity. But with one who seeks the Wisdom of Truth the opposite is true, for he who holds the Staff of Tahuti does so in silence, for Tahuti does not speak. The Truth and Revelation of experience cannot be conveyed by words.

The Abyss is what separates knowledge from understanding, just as it also separates the Soul from one’s greater undying Spirit. Therefore, Truth is often expressed below the Abyss in parables or seemingly contradictory statements. But because of the nature of the Abyss, and its endless complexity and meaningless reciprocal definitions, it is best to avoid overly complex delineations of matters of Truth lest one eventually succumb to circular thinking. This attempt to explain and delineate an aspect of Truth is, instead, the job of Principles.

Principles might be considered to be the formulas of Truth. For Principles, in fact, define both the source of a thing and its function or behavior throughout its being or existence. In other words, because a Principle exists simultaneously above and below the Abyss, there is no difference between, or distance from, the source or origin of a Principle, and its affect upon manifest existence, which it describes by its very nature.

As an example, let us consider how a bow and arrow function together. In our case, the bow functions as the source of the Principle. The source of that principle is born of a Truth which exists above the Abyss, in the Unmanifest Realm. The arrow functions as the rules by which the Principle is governed and manifested in the Material Realm. These rules determine how the Principle functions, and what results take place in the Manifest Realms because of its presence. Now with this in mind, realize that you have been wrong all along, and there is no separate bow and arrow – they were really one. It is only because you are incarnate in the Material Realm that they look like separate objects. A Principle functions the same above, as it does below. A Principle is, therefore, like the Truth from which it springs, incorruptible.

This non-duality is what separates a Principle from common laws or rules. Laws and rules have their source in the human mind of the animal self, while Principles have their source in Spirit. And so it is with Truth, as opposed to facts. Facts are the result of observable events in the Material Realms, while Truths are the understandable spiritual purpose or nature of a thing.