What is the origin of this mantra?
-
- Posts: 2948
- Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:37 am
What is the origin of this mantra?
What is the origin of the mantra Hocus Pocus ?
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
Seventh paragraph:
http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/mason ... importance
I doubt that they could be considered as actual Mantras in the true sense, but "Abracadabra", "Open Sesame", and "Hocus Pocus" are all said to have 'esoteric' roots. Then they became associated with legerdemain.
http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/mason ... importance
I doubt that they could be considered as actual Mantras in the true sense, but "Abracadabra", "Open Sesame", and "Hocus Pocus" are all said to have 'esoteric' roots. Then they became associated with legerdemain.
- Caoimhghín
- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:35 pm
- Location: Whitby, Ontario
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
When they stopped being able to understand Latin in Europe, people would hear "Hoc est corpus meus" (This is my body). This happens right before communion, so it is a significant set of words.
Some started to believe that "Hoc est corpus meus" was literally a spell that summoned down God as that he could dwell in the bread. They decided to try to use these "magic words" themselves. Hocus Pocus.
That is only one etymology, mind you, but it is a very traditional one. Other people believe there are other origins to the words.
Alternatively some people think that it is a Czech colloquialism. Go figure.
Some started to believe that "Hoc est corpus meus" was literally a spell that summoned down God as that he could dwell in the bread. They decided to try to use these "magic words" themselves. Hocus Pocus.
That is only one etymology, mind you, but it is a very traditional one. Other people believe there are other origins to the words.
Alternatively some people think that it is a Czech colloquialism. Go figure.
Then, the monks uttered this gāthā:
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
Hocus Pocus is derogatory. So, it likely was an English phrase from the Reformation meant to belittle Catholics and High Episcopalians.Coëmgenu wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:21 pm When they stopped being able to understand Latin in Europe, people would hear "Hoc est corpus meus" (This is my body). This happens right before communion, so it is a significant set of words.
Some started to believe that "Hoc est corpus meus" was literally a spell that summoned down God as that he could dwell in the bread. They decided to try to use these "magic words" themselves. Hocus Pocus.
That is only one etymology, mind you, but it is a very traditional one. Other people believe there are other origins to the words.
Alternatively some people think that it is a Czech colloquialism. Go figure.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/hocus-pocus
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
The knowledge of this is said to have been lost before the age of Dragons, young mage.
Kevin
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
I can be Giaus and you can be Merlin.
Speak the dragon language!!
Kevin
Speak the dragon language!!
Kevin
-
- Posts: 2948
- Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:37 am
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
Thanks alot for that link! Very interesting!
- Caoimhghín
- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:35 pm
- Location: Whitby, Ontario
Re: What is the origin of this mantra?
As good a posting as it may have seemed, I think Malcolm's point was more likely.
I was presuming a much larger area of diffusion for attestations of 'hocus pocus' as a magic term. I was thinking it would be attested to in some grimoires or something. I was also expecting the term to be considerably older than ~1700ish.
Then, the monks uttered this gāthā:
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?
The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
-
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:41 am