|
Post by pointwithinacircle on May 19, 2015 10:09:01 GMT 9.5
Today, on another forum, someone quoted a line from an old post of mine. I went back and read the original which I posted on January 30, 2015. I am re-posting it here because it really sums up how I see the work I am striving to accomplish in Masonry. I hope you will share your thoughts on what it is that we came here to do.
"The work of a Mason is to discover the essence buried beneath the form. This is not only true of Masonry but of life as well. It is a difficult journey that, in Masonry, is called the search for the lost word. It is an appropriate allegory. A word is a symbol for something. The form of a word can be a sound, combination of letters, or some other symbol. But the essence of a word is something other than the form. Form is a like a vehicle which carries the essence. Masonic Ritual, Lodges, Traditions, History, etc, are the forms, the vehicles, which carry the essence. Any attempt to discuss the essence must be carried out using the some type of forms, some symbolism which is by its very nature is less than complete."
|
|
|
Post by paul on May 19, 2015 11:00:19 GMT 9.5
That is a pretty good statement - although rather beyond the interest of many brethren I have met.
>The work of a Mason is to discover the essence buried beneath the form
Do you see that as the same as discovering the hidden mysteries of nature and science?
|
|
|
Post by pointwithinacircle on May 20, 2015 0:19:09 GMT 9.5
>The work of a Mason is to discover the essence buried beneath the form Do you see that as the same as discovering the hidden mysteries of nature and science? Well, I suppose I would cautiously answer yes. I would not limit the term nature (as I fear some might interpret) to mean naturally occurring physical things. I would also include the the non-physical world in my observations. Some non-physical things can only be seen by their effects. Love, for example, is a non-physical thing that can not be seen but whose effects can be recognized. So when I talk about the hidden mysteries of nature, I mean the nature of everything together and of each thing individually. For me these "natures" include the physical nature, intellectual nature, emotional nature (I actually think of this as feelings or sensations), and spiritual nature (which I admit is still the hardest "nature" for me to grasp). As for the word science I think of it as a synonym for understanding, or the search for understanding. I feel that anything becomes a science when and if you are trying to understand it. Using again the example of love, sometimes I just bask in the warm glow it creates (a sensation) while at other times I investigate why I feel loved when certain actions occur and unloved when they do not. (observation has taught me that different people recognize different actions signs of love) What I am attempting to describe is a spiral of experimentation and analysis, repeated endlessly, conducted in the experience of my own life, and in my experience of those things outside of me.
|
|
|
Post by pointwithinacircle on May 20, 2015 0:53:38 GMT 9.5
foxfires - Thank you for taking the time to write such a complete response to my post. I will not comment on every thought but I would like to point out a few that were especially meaningful to me. I like the phrase "a more than 10% dedication to energy tithe route back to God". I have always suspected that tithing meant more than ten cents on the dollar. This phrase gives me a "mental picture of the concept" that I think will be helpful to me. Also, "spiritual hygiene" is a concept that I will remember and try to use more often. I agree that there are mental dangers on this path. At times I have felt unsettled and decided to pull back and concentrate on more practical things for a while. This year I am planting flowers and investing myself in their well-being. They in return are attempting to make me happy by creating beautiful blossoms. How nice of them.
|
|
|
Post by paul on May 20, 2015 17:28:52 GMT 9.5
Well, I suppose I would cautiously answer yes. I would not limit the term nature .. So having found knowledge of the underlying essence, is there any work to which this knowledge might be applied?
|
|
|
Post by elijah on May 21, 2015 7:14:23 GMT 9.5
if i may add a flip side to this.... Pointwithinacircle if you have never attempted a true vegan lifestyle ....it may help you notice the subtle energy's at play within self as once the will power to stop one self from eating animal products produces a certain effect of analyzing the psyche and how it operates in certain situations of CHOICE ...all answers lie within.... but i have found it really helps tames certain energys which more often then not drown out the inner teacher...this is a work in time as the mental and emotional and physical are in someway stimulated by external and internal stimuli and a path to spiritual hygiene is noticing these changes and balancing them imo tarot key 8 is a good reference point to the symbolism involved...where the hebrew letter resembles a snake analyzing it self...
|
|
|
Post by pointwithinacircle on May 21, 2015 12:30:58 GMT 9.5
So having found knowledge of the underlying essence, is there any work to which this knowledge might be applied? I suppose the most honest answer here is "I think there must be". Occasionally I see a situation clearly and I am able to act in accordance with the essence of things. However I often feel confused, as though I am trapped in the form of things, unable to connect to the essence of events. I find this uncomfortable. In these situations I feel like my only option is to "do as I am told" because my own power seems to have drained away as I lost my understanding of the situation. I have felt this way for a long time, at least since I was ten years old. I am wondering if this work you speak of is related to staying in the essence of things? I have never really had a teacher to train me or show me. It is difficult trying to figure it out myself.
|
|
|
Post by paul on May 21, 2015 13:49:36 GMT 9.5
> "I think there must be" One of the clues to that is that Freemason's lodge/temple extends from E to W and N to S and from the centre/surface of the Earth to the Heavens. This tells us that the lodge ritual - in principle - operates across the whole planet and into the heavens. I have experienced aspects of that. For example, once working with a blocked energy line (ley line) that was supposed to extend around the planet, I pushed some energy from my forehead along the line and was still pushing a minute or so later when I had a distinct thump on the back of my head as the energy broke through and made a circuit. There were some other blocked lines at that spot and I thought "I'll fix those too", only to get the response in my head: "Oh no, you won't". >as though I am trapped in the form of things, unable to connect to the essence of events. The ability to connect to the essence is often undermined by external entities that wish to reduce human effectiveness. There are various mechanisms but perhaps the most common in humans is to place small entities in the joints between the bones (especially the spine) and use those entities to anchor dark streams through which the human energies may be drained. You may find it beneficial to examine your own spine for entities and connected dark lines. There are various threads dealing with related topics including a406.proboards.com/thread/985/darkness-humansa406.proboards.com/thread/538/splits-auraa406.proboards.com/thread/561/ This is a rather long thread with quite of lot of accidental demonstration of outside thoughts but it has some useful posts a406.proboards.com/thread/1282/lend-me-ear
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on Apr 20, 2016 9:36:34 GMT 9.5
|
|
|
Post by paul on Apr 20, 2016 11:14:36 GMT 9.5
"O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life." Certainly admirable intentions, but I get little sense of any dynamic role of humanity in the unfolding of Creation. Is the human race decorative? Or perhaps a macro version of The Truman Show www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on Apr 21, 2016 14:36:42 GMT 9.5
> Certainly admirable intentions, but I get little sense of any dynamic role of humanity in the unfolding of Creation.
To get to the hidden mysteries one has to delve to a certain depth and not just depend on popular religion. It takes a certain kind of human courage to begin the process of unfoldment.
|
|
|
Post by sammy on Apr 22, 2016 10:50:04 GMT 9.5
It takes a certain kind of human courage to begin the process of unfoldment. Painfully true... and perhaps a bit understated LOL.
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on Apr 22, 2016 15:25:58 GMT 9.5
It may be an understatement; it takes a lot of courage to grow spiritually and move along the Path that sets us free.
|
|
|
Post by pointwithinacircle on Apr 23, 2016 1:43:47 GMT 9.5
It may be an understatement; it takes a lot of courage to grow spiritually and move along the Path that sets us free. I would say that it is an understatement because courage can be seen as only a part of what it takes. Courage, yes certainly, also determination or willpower is required. Also a certain amount of knowledge will be helpful. Clear judgement or wisdom seem necessary also. A certain amount of control over the conscious and unconscious selves seems like a necessary factor. Also balance. There are so many factors and I have found that they all need to grow together to make progress. If any one factor in myself becomes stronger than the others it will certainly declare itself king seek to eliminate the others as threats to it's absolute rule.
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on Apr 24, 2016 15:24:32 GMT 9.5
It also takes much strength to undertake the work. That is, strength to override the turbulence of changing times and odds stacking up against you. Obstacles fall onto the Path that must be overcome and understood before a person can grow out of old ways and habits. Freedom is the great face of the beloved.
|
|
|
Post by sammy on May 19, 2016 12:23:59 GMT 9.5
Great overview! My exact thoughts. It seems like the more visible sides you conquer, the more hidden sides appear. Such is the ladder I suppose.
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on May 19, 2016 15:52:39 GMT 9.5
Jacob's way. Aspire to the star at the top of the ladder.
|
|
|
Post by paul on May 26, 2016 11:46:13 GMT 9.5
>Aspire to the star at the top of the ladder.
So what do the brethren do when they have reached that star?
For what is that star responsible?
|
|
|
Post by fjrogers on May 26, 2016 15:04:36 GMT 9.5
It is the Star of Initiation.
|
|
|
Post by paul on May 27, 2016 18:01:04 GMT 9.5
Initiation is a start. So what ought to be done after the start?
|
|