Post by stepnwolf on Dec 15, 2012 23:26:50 GMT 9.5
Since coming to the forum I felt really inadequate in using the systems of tantra and yoga of Hinduism and Buddhism. As an exercise, I have tried to correlate the pen. in the Ob...s of the three degrees. Perhaps someone else could do something similar with the ToL. Most of this information comes from Wikipedia.
1° = Vishuddha: Throat Chakra Physical - Communication Emotional - Independence Mental - Fluent thought Spiritual - Sense of Security
2° = Anahata: Heart Chakra Physical - Circulation Emotional - Unconditional love for self and others Mental - Passions (?) Spiritual - Devotion
3° = Manipura: Solar Plexus Chakra Physical - Digestion Emotional - Expansiveness Mental - Personal power Spiritual - Growth
Presumably these centers are activated at that part of the Ob. Can anyone explain why specifically? We work with the assumption that it all hangs together, but is this really valid?
While Masonic craft ritual is ultimately modelled on inner initiation there have been many alterations over the centuries and even millennia. The alterations have not always been particularly useful from an esoteric perspective.
The first inner initiation is based upon raising the energies from the sacral chakra to the throat chakra. When that occurs the voice lightens somewhat, losing the husky tone associated with uncontrolled sexuality. With the knowledge of Reality that comes with the first initiation, the new brother must learn to control his/her creativity and speech. Hence the EA penalty is valid symbolically. Further, the holding of the sign stimulates the throat chakra and hence helps lift the energy focus from the lower creativity of the sacral chakra to the higher creativity of the throat.
The work of the EA is to establish a higher degree of morality and right relationship. This work is essential for becoming a genuine second degree initiate.
The genuine second initiation involves establishing control of the emotions and the solar plexus chakra. As with the first initiation there is a pair of chakras involved, in this case the solar plexus and the heart. Having largely purified the emotions the brother needs to move his/her life focus upwards from the solar plexus. This may be either to the mind or to the heart. In some ways moving the focus to the heart is preferable. This is expressed in Masonry through the sign of fidelity (properly made on the left breast - testable by observing energy flows) and through the second degree penalty.
The penalty in the third degree seems to me to be a kludge with elements from 18th century criminal law. In any case, the genuine second degree initiate, while quite capable of making misjudgements, is regarded as trustworthy and does not need to be threatened with penalties.
The Grand and Royal Sign seems to me to be much more appropriate to the genuine MM than the penalty. There may be two quite different forms to the G&R sign, both of which indicate and may stimulate the flow of Light from above.
The stimulation at the obligation is usually generic. If it works properly then a flow from the GAOTU will occur down into the head and body of the candidate.
I saw one candidate break into a sweat while the brethren surrounding were quite cool. In that case the candidate had a blockage near the throat and the Light having entered the head did not flow straight down to the heart but flowed out around the throat blockage and into the heart from outside the body. I was JD and watching closely.
In French-influenced workings for MM there can be a ring of brethren just W of the candidate, using swords to assist the flow into the heart or perhaps into the feet.
It is very rare for a genuine initiation to coincide with a Masonic initiation but in due time that will become more common - assuming Masonry is able to renew itself.
On occasion a genuine MM may be recognised by the Lodge of the Blazing Star but it seems that at least two more genuine planetary initiations are usually required to be eligible to enter as an apprentice in that Lodge.
The exceptions may correspond by analogy with the traditional Masonic usage of taking a Lewis at a younger age.
Since coming to the forum I felt really inadequate in using the systems of tantra and yoga of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Perhaps you should embrace the Western Mystery Tradition instead of the Eastern?
They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor. -The Last Samurai
...inadequate in using the systems of tantra and yoga of Hinduism and Buddhism....
Is that because there are esoteric aspects of Masonry that do not fit easily into systems that are primarily about human spiritual development?
In Masonry the development of brethren is a preliminary step to allow effective group work in the temple that extends from E to W and N to S and from the centre of the Earth to the Heavens.
At first sight the Western Mystery/Esoteric Tradition might seem to be an academic name for a somewhat opportunistic aggregation of pre-existing esoteric traditions available in Europe. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_esotericism
There may however have been an underlying synthesising influence operating at spiritual levels. Symptoms can be seen in the advent of: - grail legends and courtly behaviour - the renaissance - modern Freemasonry - planetary stewardship
