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Post by LorrB on Jul 14, 2011 8:37:53 GMT 9.5
One can probably say the same thing about those who join Freemasonry for personal advantage or the mere thrill of discovering 'a secret'.
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Post by Henka on Jul 14, 2011 10:29:26 GMT 9.5
Prophet Muhammad is said to have stated that Elijah and Khidr meet every year and spend the month of Ramadan in Jerusalem and Khidr was contemporary with Moses. Jesus is said by some to be The Green Man. Then we come to the Transfiguration of Jesus, an event reported by the Synoptic Gospels in which Jesus underwent transfiguration with the prophets Moses and Elijah. Coincidental? In Sufi tradition, al-Khadr has come to be known as one of those who receive illumination direct from God without human mediation.  … and if you want to take a close look at this DaVinci and the green man… www.artchive.com/artchive/l/leonardo/lastsupp.jpgMoo-hammed said a lot of stuff that was wrong... |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 14, 2011 13:16:03 GMT 9.5
Muhammed or Mohammad ?
Agreed, prophets are not infallible. They are prophets not God. Apart from that people take it upon themselves to translate what prophets say ?!
Unless ye be reborn again .... means ?
I was taken up to the seventh heaven ... means ?
Paul did not know whether he was in the body or not ... means ?
I sometimes wonder whether some Jesus words were put into his mouth. Jesus says... Jesus said... gives weight to an argument.
Maybe a lot of the true teachings of the holy prophets has been 'lost in translation' and we are the poorer for it.
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Post by LorrB on Jul 15, 2011 9:00:17 GMT 9.5
Key 5
The study of man can be pursued successfully only those who have acquired the qualities of reverence and obedience. Each must have one ideal as his guiding star. Each must study principles and not personalities. With simplicity of heart and clarity of mind he must approach the great mystery. When man abuses his privileges or makes no use of his opportunities to understand Nature’s law for his being, he brings down upon himself unhappy Karmic reactions. |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 18, 2011 9:28:13 GMT 9.5
Key 6
The old Jewish rabbis taught that those who study the Qabbalah play with fire, and the student of today knows that this is true of all esoteric teachings. Wisdom is a two-edged sword. For that reason, the Mystery Schools demand years of purification and preparation, and the student of the ancient Wisdom must, without hesitation, accept these obligations if he desires illumination.
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Post by paul on Jul 18, 2011 9:52:26 GMT 9.5
those who study the Qabbalah play with fire, ..... Wisdom is a two-edged sword. I suspect the original statement is literal. Those who study the Qabalah may meet more fire elementals than they expect. |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 19, 2011 9:31:02 GMT 9.5
With regard to Freemasonry, I found it to be true. After my initiation I was tested at length re controlling emotions, patience etc. We oldies always feel a tad sorry for the new Initiate, as it seems they all go through a 'testing' time as EA's. Re the fire bit... I also found that my negatives were 'energised'. They seemed amplified, so that even I could could not deny them   The positives were also 'energised' - the better to 'slay the enemy within'. |
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Post by paul on Jul 19, 2011 9:58:54 GMT 9.5
......the better to 'slay the enemy within'. Would cooperation and/or transformation sometimes produce a better outcome? |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 19, 2011 11:16:58 GMT 9.5
......the better to 'slay the enemy within'. Would cooperation and/or transformation sometimes produce a better outcome?  definitely! I was actually thinking of the word 'jihad' when I wrote that... which I have read means 'slaying the enemy within' - not those 'out there'. (Key 9 makes reference to Mohammad - I do like the way these keys are able to be applied to all sort of religious philosophies and theosophies - truly universal keys it seems) |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 19, 2011 11:18:58 GMT 9.5
Key 7
The curiosity-seeker and those searching for thrills can never gain the sacred truth or fathom the secrets of the Qabbalah. The same is true of those who study magic only that they may derive power therefrom with which to take advantage of people less informed. He who searches for wisdom in order to gain temporal power will never secure the true spiritual light. All who follow such a course are disciples of the Black Path.
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Post by LorrB on Jul 20, 2011 8:54:05 GMT 9.5
Key 8
Only students actuated by the highest motives and purest ideals can hope to gain true knowledge of this great science concerning the secrets of the soul. Not until the seeker after spiritual illumination so lives that he proves by his thought and actions his right to receive the celestial knowledge, will the keys of the sacred sciences – the silver key of the old and the golden key of the new Qabbalah – be entrusted to him.
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Post by LorrB on Jul 20, 2011 8:54:21 GMT 9.5
(Does Freemasonry possess two keys - silver and gold?)
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Post by paul on Jul 20, 2011 12:29:28 GMT 9.5
Speaking broadly, the secrets of Masonry can be divided into two areas:
- the nature of the human and its development (KST)
- the nature of and access to the Earthly and Heavenly Temples (EA TB)
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Post by LorrB on Jul 25, 2011 13:37:09 GMT 9.5
Key 9
Man must cease his efforts to mould the universe according to his own desires and God’s laws to temporal ends. He must realize that he is wise who moulds himself into the Divine Plan, and instead of drawing God and wisdom down to himself, rises through the seven heavens like Mohammed ascending to the footstool of divinity. |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 25, 2011 13:43:51 GMT 9.5
Note: Seven Heavens (Hebrew: שבעת שמים; Arabic: سبع سماوت) is a part of cosmology found in many major religions such as Judaism, Islam and Hinduism and in some minor religions such as Hermeticism and Gnosticism. The Divine Throne is said to be in or above the seventh heaven in most Abrahamic religions.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Heavens |
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Post by LorrB on Jul 26, 2011 14:33:50 GMT 9.5
Key 10
The student must realize that a balanced intellect to hold emotional excesses in check and a harmonized body through which both the mental and emotional natures may find expression are essential to the understanding of a teaching which is harmonious and balanced. Only those who have been faithful in little things can ever hope to be given the sacred sceptre of the divine power which makes them masters over great things. [/blockquote] |
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Post by paul on Jul 26, 2011 15:16:28 GMT 9.5
A role for the heart?
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Post by LorrB on Jul 27, 2011 8:40:37 GMT 9.5
I am not sure that I fully understand what this means... a harmonized body through which both the mental and emotional natures may find expression. Can anyone throw some light on this for me?
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Post by paul on Jul 27, 2011 9:22:31 GMT 9.5
In many humans the organs are in conflict. The resulting disturbance of internal energies, for example, disturbs sleep and reduces stamina.
While the organ conflict commonly arises from emotional and mental turmoil, it may also arise from poor diet, chaotic eating, improper lifestyle and inappropriate dwellings.
The lack of an harmonised body limits the extent to which elevated emotions and thoughts may be expressed. For example, a person who is liverish is more likely to be irritable.
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Post by LorrB on Jul 27, 2011 11:54:35 GMT 9.5
Thanks for that, makes perfect sense.
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The positives were also 'energised' - the better to 'slay the enemy within'. 
definitely!