Observations placeholder
Flames of a butter lamp
Identifier
002064
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Recovering the Ancient Magic – Max Freedom Long
The fire magician had been born in India of English parents and left an orphan at an early age. He had fallen into the hands of a Hindu fire magician who befriended him and taught him his art.
The training was long. For hours the lad was made to sit before the flame of a butter lamp and endeavour to see and feel the " god " behind and in it. One day he became aware of the " god." It had " swallowed " him as his teacher had predicted that it would, and he had become fire itself. With more training he became able to " become fire " at will and so was able to handle fire or fire-heated objects as a part of himself without being burned……
At first I couldn't do anything but pray and watch my flame," he explained. " Everything was a sin from which I must be purified by passing through fire under the protection of my master. But after I came to know fire and that I was a part of it, I found out that I was a part of everything. That knowledge set me free. There are only two things which I cannot do and continue my work. First I cannot injure anyone in any way, and second, I must never give up my practice for more than a few days at a time."
I asked why he could not injure anyone.
" Because to injure anyone in any way or cause them sorrow makes it impossible for me to become a part of fire. I do not know just why, but it seems that to injure someone automatically makes me afraid. I become afraid of fire and so I cannot become fire or touch it without being burned. Twice I had to go back to my master and get him to put me through the fire to purify me so that I could get away from the vague fear that I could not overcome otherwise."
" There are invocations, but one gets past them in time. I have worked so long that just to come near anything hot changes me to a part of fire. While I talk to my audience I have another part of me that is fire, but which never shows itself. It is in the air around the top of my head. If I get out of practice - like I have done a few times between engagements - I have to use the old invocations for a little while until I get so I can become fire again whenever I wish to"