LIBER XXL

A∴A∴ Publication in Class B.

Imprimatur: O.S.V. 6º=5^o Imperator

Published by the O.T.O.

BCM/ANKH, London, w.c.2

An Ixiii Sol in 0° Cancer

7.40 a.m. June 22, 1939 e.v.

     This edition consists of 100 copies signed and numbered; each

copy will contain an original pen and ink drawing by the Artist, and

specially bound according to the purchaser's requirements.

Price 3 Guineas

     This copy is No._______________

LIBER XXI.

KHING KANG KING

THE CLASSIC OF PURITY

first written down by me

KO YUEN

in the Episode of the Dynasty of Wu

and now made into a Rime

by me Aleister Crowley

I.

     LAO KUN THE MASTER SAID:

          TAO IS, DEVOID OF FORM—

     YET HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE BROUGHT TO BIRTH,

          AND NURTURED BY ITS NORM

     TAO HATH NO WILL TO WORK;

          YET BY ITS WAY OF HEAVEN

     THE MOON AND SUN REJOICE TO RUN

          AMONG THE STARRY SEVEN.

     TAO HATH NO NAME; IT’S WORD

          IS GROWTH, AND SUSTENANCE

     TO ALL; I AIM TO GIVE IT NAME:

          TAO (HEAVEN PROSPER CHANCE!)

     TAO HATH TWIN PHASE, WITH THE TEH:

          THE SILENT AND THE STRESSED.

     OF MOTION, THOSE; OF THESE, REPOSE

          SUBLIMELY MANIFEST.

     HEAVEN MOVES, PURE SILENCE HE;

          EARTH RESTS, BENEATH THE STRAIN;

     SHUTTLE AND LOOM, AS WORD AND WOMB,

          THEIR MYSTERY SUSTAIN.

     PURE MOTION MAKETH REST

          AS SILENCE MAKETH STRESS.

     IF MAN WERE STILL, THEN HEAVEN SHOULD THRILL

          WITH EARTH TO NOTHINGNESS.

     SELF LOVETH SILENCE. YEA,

          BUT MIND DISTRACTETH IT.

     MIND LOVETH REST; BUT PASSION’S PEST

          ALLURES THE TREMBLING WIT.

     IF MAN RESTRAIN DESIRE,

          HIS MIND WILL CEASE TO ROLL,

     AND MIND’S RELEASE ALLOW PURE PEACE

          OF SILENCE TO THE SOUL.

     THE SENSES WILL NOT SOIL;

          THE THOUGHT WILL NOT UPSTRESS;

     NOR POISONS (GREED, WRATH, DULNESS) BREED

          THEIR TRIFORM DEADLINESS.

     MEN EARN NOT EASE OF TAO

          FOR THEIR DESIRES’ DISEASE;

     BECAUSE THEIR MIND IS NOT REFINED

          OF THOUGHT BY KILLING THESE

     IF ONE SHOULD SLAY DESIRES,

          HIS MIND AND BODY SEEM

     NO LONGER HIS, BUT PHANTASIES

          DANCED IN A WANTON’S DREAM.

     SLAY MIND, SLAY BODY, SLAY

          THE EXTERNAL: MATTER GOES.

     THEN SPACE REMAINS; RENEW THY PAINS!

          UP! FRONT THE FINAL FOES!

     SLAY SPACE; THEN NAUGHT ABIDES.

          HOLD NOT THINE HOLY HAND!

     WHEN NAUGHT GIVES BACK BEFORE THE ATTACK,

          SERENE THY SILENCE STAND!

     ALL’S REST, DEVOID OF MARK;

          HOW SHOULD DESIRES FIX TOOTH?

     WHEN THEY ARE PAST, THOU SURELY HAST

          THE SILENCE OF THE TRUTH

     FLAWLESS THAT TRUTH AND FIXED

          YET APT TO EACH APPEAL

     NATURE AND SENSE TO INFLUENCE—

          THE MAGNET TO THE STEEL!

     OH! THIS TRUE TOUCH WITH ALL

          ELASTIC AND EXACT

     THAT YET ABIDES ABOVE THEIR TIDES—

          THE SILENCE FREE FROM ACT!

     HE THAT HATH THIS SHALL COME

          LITTLE BY LITTLE, A BREATH,

     SO FLOWETH HE NOW, TO TRUTH OF TAO,

          WHEREIN HE VANISHETH.

     MEN STYLE HIM LORD OF TAO,

          YET HE HATH NONE TO LORD.

     HID MOTIVE HE OF ALL THAT BE:

          ENOUGH FOR HIS REWARD!

     HE THAT CAN COMPREHEND

          THIS DOCTRINE MAY TRANSMIT

     THIS SACRED TAO TO MEN THAT VOW

          THEMSELVES TO FATHOM IT.

II.

     LAO KUN THE MASTER SAID:

          THE ADEPT IN SKILL OF SOUL

     HATH NEVER AN AIM; THE BUNGLER’S SHAME

          IS THAT HE GROPES A GOAL.

     WHO MOST POSSESS THE TEH

          CONCEAL THEIR MAGICK POWER;

     WHO LEAST POSSESS EXERT THEIR STRESS

          SEVEN TIMES IN EVERY HOUR.

     THESE, WHO CLING FAST TO POWERS,

          WHO GUARD THEM, AND DISPLAY

     THEIR MAGICK ART—THEY ARE NOT PART

          OF TAO NOR YET OF TEH.

     MEN WIN NOT TRUTH OF TAO

          BECAUSE THEIR MINDS ARE WIRED.

     THE MIND UNCURBED, THE SELF’S PERTURBED,

          AND LOSES TUNE OF TIDE.

     LOST, THE EXTERNAL LURES;

          THEY TURN TO SEEK IT: THEN

     ALL THINGS PERPLEX, CONFUSE, AND VEX

          THOSE MISERABLE MEN.

     DISORDERED THOUGHTS ARISE;

          BODY AND MIND GROW SICK.

     DISGRACE AND FEAR GROW YEAR BY YEAR

          TO THEIR CLIMACTERIC.

     WILD, THEY ARE TOSSED ABOUT

          THROUGH LIFE AND DEATH; THEY QUIVER,

     SUNK IN SEA-STRESS OF BITTERNESS,

          AND LOSE THE TAO FOR EVER.

     THE TRUE, THE ABIDING TAO!

          WHO UNDERSTANDETH HATH;

     WHO HATH THE TAO IS HERE AND NOW

          IN SILENCE OF THE PATH.