The Innermost Self of Man Within the Temple ..
Jun 21, 2010 13:17:57 GMT 9.5
Post by LorrB on Jun 21, 2010 13:17:57 GMT 9.5
More from Geoffrey Hodson.
The Innermost Self of Man within the Temple of the Universe
"First then, who is the Candidate? He of she is the soul, who in the long course of evolution, stands at the door of the Temple of the Eternal Wisdom. He is also the Monad (divine spirit), hitherto "resting" in the Consciousness of the Logos. The evolutionary impulse has caused the decision to send forth his Ray into the Universe, so that he may evolve from germinal perfection through conscious imperfection to conscious perfection. The Logoic and the human interpretations must run parallel as we proceed, for all Masonic symbology is susceptible to this connotation. The Soul, newly formed as a centre of Self-consciousness in the Higher Mental Plane, with the germ of the Godhead present within it, "sleeps" through the necessary sequence of successive incarnations. It does, however, receive a gradual increase of faculty, which it stores quite automatically. This goes on for many lives, the number varying with the individual.
Deep within, pure Wisdom is locked in “sleep”; Spirit, however, continually sends down refreshing and arousing forces through the Monad. These pass directly into the personality and the physical body where they constitute the Will-force, the Life-force and the recuperative power. Thus, the Highest and the lowest meet – Spirit and matter; but in unawakened Man the soul does not participate consciously in their united activity. They are as the B… and J… of Man, the Will force and the physical vehicle. Not until these are “conjoined” is there conscious exercise of “Stability”. In other words, the sleeping Soul is in the charge of Nature’s processes – of Life itself.
In Freemasonry this is symbolized by the outer world – the country and nation in which the individual is born. At the adolescent stage of evolution the Immortal Self begins to grow up, to be Self-conscious as an immortal being – half god and half man, the child of Deity and yet also physically of mortal parentage. In terms of knowledge of the purpose of its existence, and of the self-directed fulfilment thereof, the reincarnating Principle is still “asleep”, in darkness, or “h……d”. Such is the Soul as “a poor Candidate in a state of darkness”.
To the Monad both the poverty and the darkness exist only in relation to, and as seen from, the outer Universe. At the beginning of its evolutionary journey the Monad is outside the door of the Temple of the Universe, and in relation to it is both poor and blind. In its own realm, however, which is that of the Divine Consciousness, it is rich and full of Light, being heir to the whole Kingdom of its Father – Who is the Solar Logos or Spiritual Sun.
The next “steps” in the evolution of the Monad are a gradual awakening to Self-consciousness and awareness and recognition of the purpose and plan of life. The latter are followed by aspiration and a determination to participate in the fulfilment of the plan, corresponding to discovery of the existence of Freemasonry. Then comes an inward desire to find and join a Temple, application for membership and ultimately the privilege of Masonic Initiation.
At this stage the Adept Head of the Ray under the influence of which the Soul is unfolding increases His ministrations on its behalf. He directs stimulating forces into the awakening mind-consciousness, and participates increasingly, together with the Angels of Karma, in the choice of the conditions of and the parents for each incarnation. This particular Master personally observes and assists the Soul through successive life cycles. Where possible He adjusts karma, arranges meetings at the physical level with those who can assist in the spiritual and occult advancement, and provides opportunities that will draw out and develop soul qualities. The individual becomes drawn into the service of a more advanced Soul.
In the Masonic Order the Master is represented by a Brother who is already a Freemason and who is thus enabled to serve as a link between the Candidate and the Temple. It appears however, that such Brothers do not always realise the significance of their Office – which is a very important one indeed, fraught with serious consequences for both present and future lives. Hence, such fraternal assistance should never be undertaken lightly or ever lightly refuse. In addition, a watchful yet unobtrusive eye should be kept upon, and an ever-ready hand be outstretched towards, the new Brother for whose entry into the Temple he has been responsible. For this is precisely the function carried out at a higher level by the Adept Head of the Candidate’s Ray.
As a result of this ministration the Personality at least finds itself outside the door of a Lodge, having been “well and worthily recommended, regularly proposed and approved in open Lodge, and now come of his own free will and accord, properly prepared, and humbly soliciting to be admitted to the mysteries and privileges of Ancient Freemasonry”. At the Soul level this implies that a sufficient degree of awakened Self-consciousness has been attained to bring the Soul to a condition in which it understands and can increasingly direct its own evolution and activity as future Master of the “Temple” o f its own mortal nature.
The Monad as a living Spark has begun to respond to the Logoic influence. From within, its divine Powers are stirring into life; namely, the potential faculties of a Logos or Master Builder of a Temple of the Universe. In Masonic terminology, the Monad has become an E.A. and has entered the workshop in which it will learn its trade as Architect and Master Builder. It is as yet entirely unacquainted with that trade, having just crossed the threshold which the Logos or TGAOTU both encloses as Giver of Light, Life and Intellect.
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