The Supreme Doctrine - neo-alchemist

THE EGOTISTICAL STATES
1. APPARENT LOVE OF OTHERS BY PROJECTION OF THE EGO 1
This is idolatrous love, in which the ego is projected onto another
being. The pretention to divinity as 'distinct' has left my organism and is now
fixed onto the organism of the other. The affective situation resembles that
above, with the difference that the other has taken my place in my scale of
values. I desire the existence of the other-idol, and am against everything that
is opposed to them. I no longer love my own organism except in so far as it is
the faithful servant of the idol; apart from that I have no further sentiments
towards my organism, I am indifferent to it, and, if necessary, I can give my
life for the safety of my idol (I can sacrifice my organism to my Ego fixed on
the idol; like Empedocles throwing himself down the crater of Etna in order
to immortalise his Ego). As for the rest of the world, I hate it if it is hostile to
my idol; if it is not hostile and if my contemplation of the idol fills me with
joy (that is to say, with egotistical affirmation), I love indiscriminately all the
rest of the world (we will see further the reason, in the fifth variety of
apparent love). If the idolised being rejects me to the point of forbidding me
all possession of my Ego in them, the apparent love can be turned to hate.
2. APPARENT LOVE OF OTHERS BY LOCALISED EXTENSION
OF THE EGO
For example: the binding love of a mother for her child, the binding
love of a man for his country, etc. This is possessive love. In idolatrous love
there was first of all projection of the Ego, and afterwards need of possession
of the projected Ego in a material or subtle possession of the idol. Here there
is first of all possession of the other (it happens by chance that this child is
my child, this country is my country). The affective situation which results
much resembles that of idolatrous love; however the joys are less conscious,
and one often sees the fear of losing the loved object predominate. Idolatrous
love gives what man calls a meaning to his life; possessive love also does
this, but it is often a meaning that is less positive, less satiating.
1 This simplified exposition of the doctrine of projection, known to all classical psychologists,
may appear to ignore the detailed analysis of this process expounded by some. Terms such as
'Ego' have not, however, a standardised meaning, and the reader may be well-advised to
understand the word here as including any aspect of the psyche whose image might be projected.
- Translator's note.
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