staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jun 21, 2005 19:09:36 GMT
Following on from a film i watched at the weekend called Stigmata which was in itself a good film,my attention was alerted to the following dialogue which was taken from The Gospel of St Thomas saying 77b :
"The Kingdom of God is inside/within you (and all about you), not in buildings/mansions of wood and stone. (When I am gone) Split a piece of wood and I am there, lift the/a stone and you will find me."
WELL : Doesnt this really get us thinking internally about who is or where is TGAOTU ?? OR am i thinking TOO deep ?
I am hoping this will give rise to some serious thought and discussion.
Over to you then .....
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ruffashlar
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Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
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Post by ruffashlar on Jun 21, 2005 19:46:54 GMT
"Where is God?" "God is everywhere."
-- The Old Catholic Catechism
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Post by ingo on Jun 21, 2005 21:05:01 GMT
God is in everything and everybody... think the Sufis
This might be a masonic thought.
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giovanni
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odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
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Post by giovanni on Jun 21, 2005 21:06:52 GMT
Noli foras ire, in interiori hominine habitat veritasSt. Augustin
Don't go outside, truth is inside you
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Post by a on Jun 21, 2005 21:16:08 GMT
No Staffs you are not thinking too deep.
Take heed of Ingo's thought.
The Gospel of St Thomas has had me thinking for years, and is the single Gospel that has touched me most deeply. I exagerate not when I say that I can almost feel some of the words in the Gospel.
Some say that this Gospel represents the closest thing to the actual words of Jesus. Then again I am sure that some will disagree.
Treasure the words Staffs, treasure those words.
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bod
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UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Jun 21, 2005 21:45:07 GMT
Like love it/she/he is all around us.
That Gospel is an excellent book, well worth a read whatever your religious belief.
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Post by billmcelligott on Jun 21, 2005 22:15:58 GMT
His omnipotence - he can do anything. His omniscience - he knows everything. His omnipresence - he is everywhere.
``I am the Alpha and the Omega'' [the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End], says the Lord God, ``Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.''
I would definately recomend Royal Arch.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jun 21, 2005 22:24:47 GMT
His omnipotence - he can do anything. His omniscience - he knows everything. His omnipresence - he is everywhere. ``I am the Alpha and the Omega'' [the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End], says the Lord God, ``Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'' I would definately recomend Royal Arch. Bill, Royal Arch ? not yet but when i am ready.I have chosen my path and Mark is very soon at the end of the year should the ballott prove in my favour
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Post by hollandr on Jun 21, 2005 23:04:18 GMT
Staffs
A good question with several answers depending on your level of interaction:
- historical figure such as Toth - right hand "man" of the Central Sun (alpha and omega) - right hand "man" of the Being whose body is the galaxy - etc
The function of Great Architect exists at all levels.
Cheers
Russell
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Post by whistler on Jun 22, 2005 3:01:29 GMT
If it is living it must contain T.G.A.O.T.U. Then what did it create non living things - like Rocks - or are they just the crap of some larger living thing?
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Post by hollandr on Jun 22, 2005 4:44:19 GMT
Whistler
Do you distinguish the spiritual qualities of the Deity as referenced in the 3 degrees : TGAOTU, TGGOTU, TMH?
Are these just poetic names for the same reality?
Or are there historic and/or non-physical entities that embody those qualities to which the function-names refer?
My hypothesis is that there are both historical (legendary) and non-physical entities for each. But my data are few at present.
Cheers
Russell
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giovanni
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Post by giovanni on Jun 22, 2005 9:28:57 GMT
Whistler Do you distinguish the spiritual qualities of the Deity as referenced in the 3 degrees : TGAOTU, TGGOTU, TMH? Russell, in Italy the name of the GAOTU never changes. But I think that there is a certain similarity withe the plan of the work and, of course, with the aim which has to be achieved by the Brethren. 1st = geographic 2nd = geometric 3rd = geodetic
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giovanni
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odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
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Post by giovanni on Jun 22, 2005 9:36:35 GMT
17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; 17:21 neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Gospel of Luke)
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Post by whistler on Jun 22, 2005 10:39:11 GMT
Whistler Do you distinguish the spiritual qualities of the Deity as referenced in the 3 degrees : TGAOTU, TGGOTU, TMH? Are these just poetic names for the same reality? Or are there historic and/or non-physical entities that embody those qualities to which the function-names refer? My hypothesis is that there are both historical (legendary) and non-physical entities for each. But my data are few at present. Cheers Russell I feel that they are the same reality - don't forget we are talking about the very top of the tree when we invoke, and we will be delivered assistance at the appropriate level for the degree
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giovanni
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Post by giovanni on Jun 22, 2005 12:15:38 GMT
The most surprising thing is that the same concepts are expressed in different languages: 13:18 He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches." (Gospel of Luke) * * * The intelligent, whose body is spirit, whose form is light, whose thoughts are true, whose nature is like ether, from whom all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed; he who embraces all this, who never speaks, and is never surprise, He is my self within the heart, smaller than a corn of rice, smaller than a corn of barley, smaller than a mustard seed, smaller than a canary seed or the kernel of a canary seed. He also is my self within the heart, greater than the earth, greater than the sky, greater than heaven, greater than all these worlds. He from whom all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed, who embraces all this, who never speaks and who is never surprised, he, my self within the heart, is that Brahman. When I shall have departed from hence, I shall obtain that Self. (Chandogya Upanishad, III Prapathaka, XIV Kanda, shruti 3)
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Post by maat on Jun 24, 2005 3:39:30 GMT
I believe ALL is the MIND OF GOD. As THE UNITY was fragmented at the time of the Big Bang (from the physical point of view) so all fragments, simple and complex, are still part of God. Thus - the stone is part of God - we are part of God. If, for example, it is the heart of the atom that is the God Consciousness then it must follow that all physical reality is a part of GOD.
Re the GA the GG and TMH - I understand that as there is a graduation of consciousness at our lower levels ie the stone, the plant, the human - so there are also levels of consciouness and organisation at the highest levels. Thus the GA would be the planner - area of expertise - the body, the GG the organiser - area of expertise - the mind, the last is the original Commissioner of Works, so as to speak - the Spirit.
Getting back to the heart of the atom. Could the soul be considered as the permanent atom that is the "I" in each of us? Upon death when the three aspects of us (in Jungian terms - conscious, sub and superconscious)are reintegrated into a single unit and the silver cord is cut (according to the bible) - is there a chance that this is when our vibratory rate is raised to a level where we are freed from the mortal body and enabled to start to see that Greater Reality which we have sought so long for. There is much here for the Master Mason to ponder...
Fellow Gods - Greetings.. Love, Light and Laughter
Maat
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Post by maat on Jun 24, 2005 3:54:52 GMT
An after thought ...
If what I say is true - think of the consequences ----
"...whatever you do unto the least of my creatures, you do unto Me".
Maat
(who sure hopes the big "I" has a sense of humour.)
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Post by gladiator on Jul 6, 2005 5:04:27 GMT
J.R.R. Tolkein's discription of creation in his book The Silmarilian is quite interesting. Music was a central theme.
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Post by hollandr on Jul 6, 2005 5:05:30 GMT
>Thus the GA would be the planner - area of expertise - the body, the GG the organiser - area of expertise - the mind, the last is the original Commissioner of Works, so as to speak - the Spirit.
Maat
Do you consider that these 3 operate as relatively separate beings?
If so, to which celestial bodies are they separately tethered?
Or perhaps the inner worlds have nothing to do with The Heavens.
Cheers
Russell
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Post by maat on Jul 7, 2005 1:05:25 GMT
Hi Russell
I, personally, don't know what the heck my sub & superconscience are doing most of the time! Though the old 'super' gives me a bit of lip sometimes when I'm wanting to go the wrong way...
If I were to try and answer your question I would have to go into the various Lodges and look for the clues. In the Craft Lodge I can see the 3 as seperate and on different levels, whereas in Royal Arch they are one and the same though appearing as seperate?!
Don't know much about the Heavens - I do know about the Law of Correspondences and the Harmonics of of All so I am pretty sure there is a connection....but what I wouldn't have a clue. I still in amazement at the telephone and television, how the heck...?
My theory is - see the operation and learn the law behind it so that it will be of use and on call. This I can do reasonably well even on a day to day basis. HOW it all works in scientific terms I have to leave to more competent brains.
Cheers Maat
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