On the path to enlightenment, when negative thoughts or emotions arise one must acknowledge them, accept them and let them pass, without clinging to them, without associating one’s identity with them. Here often arises inner conflict. “Am I willing to let this go?” “Is this really what I want?” “Is it fair that I have to make this choice?” “Do I really need to surrender?” Etc. These excuses disgust me, because they presuppose that I must admit a weakness, confess a wrong or otherwise cut a part of myself off. I have fully recognized how I am in my mortal coil and I have fully calculated and planned how I will become hereafter.
Essentially, where the LHPer (left-hand path-er) guided by logic considers their being solely as that which allows negative thoughts and emotions to pass without clinging, the RHPer (right-hand pather-er) guided by faith considers their being as that which is constantly sublimated by and guided by that which allows negative thoughts and emotions to pass without clinging. In both cases the ‘furthest-back observer’ or ‘higher self’ is never completely one’s true identity in this world’s physical existence, as the act of identifying one’s being towards it, the act of labeling the labeler, whether by logic or by faith, exemplifies the ‘conscious control agency’ or ‘ego’.
Where devotion to logic insists that clinging to negative thoughts and emotions is utterly unhealthy and inefficient, devotion to faith implores that clinging to negative thoughts and emotions is wholly sinful and banished. The LHPer’s devotion to logic is not like a hot ray but rather like a cold wind, an ally not striking down that which is condemned but rather an ally purging that which is already purged. Where for the LHPer who has realized a self-sufficient internal integrity that which is already purged is already purged because the choice is already chosen, the logic already realized and unflinching, for the RHPer who has realized self-transcendent external surrender that which is condemned is struck down because they are willing to let that piece of their personality be cut off and reincarnated as impersonal divine consciousness.
For the LHPer affirmation towards the light is affirmation that one is not already the light in the first place and is a poor way to pursue spiritual growth. Move thus ever towards the darkness, seeking always opportunity to do that which is the natural way of light, to shine. The thing about logic is that it cuts through all the self-pity and self-doubt like a hot knife through butter, it can freeze even the most darkly burning hearts into catatonia. What defines the LHP master is not the poses they strike or the actions they take, but the over-arching personality and character of the actor and the knowledge that every act is but a tiny piece of their masterfully-laid plan.
The cold winds of black metal logic are personal, “egocentric” if you want, but impeccably calibrated to an enlightened vector as the LHP master retains their personality in the self-sufficient internal integrity of their reality paradigm. Ah but as with occult things this is not easy to achieve, and as a result the underachiever is far more pitiful on the LHP than on the RHP, which may explain the horrendous dichotomy between that black metal which expresses a sound of wisdom, exaltation and warrior spirit and that other black metal which expresses a sound of horror, wretchedness and despair.
It can be difficult to distinguish between the two types of black metal, however. The coldness of logic, subverting the blissful ignorance of innate sinfulness’ exaggerated humility, bears a brunt like no other, and its frostbitten stillness reaps havoc on the world of convention. Perhaps the only real difference, as the LHP is the razor’s edge, is that the lesser type of black metal only attempts to bear a brunt like no other and only attempts to reap havoc on the world of convention, and its failure to do so echoes louder than its effort. It is a good thing, then, that this text speaks in polarized, analogical extremes for the sake of making a point, and that in reality the middle way, along which LHPers and RHPers both essentially must walk, is somewhat forgiving towards failure after all.
Perhaps in its extremity this text will fail to connect with certain readers, but for others I hope it will be most insightful—it’s a necessary trade-off, indeed, not everybody can truly appreciate good black metal, either. The way of enlightenment on the LHP is not devoid of warmth, but the icy winds of logic are a potent and majestic treasure through which the fire of wisdom may be realized.