staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 7, 2004 19:37:54 GMT
This is a thread that atarnaris originally started and i found in my docs and have ressurected :
Andrew wrote :
Brethren All, This is not meant to be an esoteric thread, but rather an exercise on how could the Craft learn to adapt to today's needs.
I happened to attend the Kabbalh centre in London (yes, the one that Madonna attends regularly),after being dragged along by a friend.I have discussed Freemasonry with this friend in the past, and he thought that it was a lot of boy-scout nonsense, at its best.
So I attended the Center in its weekly introductory lecture,and I saw a lot of people from all races, ages and both sexes. Men, women, Jews, Non-Jews, rich and poor, black and white and all other races. Instantly you were welcomed and made very comfortable, there was definetely no pretence. All of the attendees were treated as equals.
The Rabbi starts the discussion on what Kabbalah is,eg and old doctrine which has influenced everybody (I dont agree with that but this is not the place for that)from Jesus, to Jung, and from Leonardo Da Vinci to Freud. Apparently all these people were Kabbalists. Anyway, the said more or less that this wisdom does not belong to the Jewish people, but to the global community and everyone can benefit to see the light. They emphasized the problems of humanity and the modern man today and how the Kabbalah can help one solve them. No morality or ethics were used for that, but rather modern psychological terms . The spiritual aspect of the Kabbalh was more than evident,it was not hidden at all. The ultimate purpose was to find the spiritual Light and to apply to everyone's daily life for achievement of happiness, prosperity and all good things.
At the end of it people could ask questions, not very complicated ones, just onto the topics that the introductory lecture touched. Before one left there was an active recruitment process to sign up for the courses. Now from what I know by my friend, the courses touch issues as astrology, the Hebrew alphabet and the rest. All in all, much more esoteric than I imagined. That is after you sign up though...
The outlook of this lecture was very similar to attending a life- coaching course, No more, no less.
Now I bet that all these people if they would listen about Freemasonry they would run a mile away. So why's that? Asking my freind on what makes it so special he said:
everyone's on the level all races and social classes attend you are made to feel special the instructions are in modern simple language you feel more confident after attending you can apply the teaching to your everyday life you are offered a deeper (spiritual) meaning for your everyday life you attend in the same room as Madonna, Victoria Bechkam, and Demmi Moore and they are not more special than you...
So now Brethren, the way I see it all these principles are potentially the same as in the Craft. Where are we then getting it wrong? The Kabbalah Centre is immensely popular at the moment in London, and it's very hip with those in the know...
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Post by Hubert (N. Z.) on Nov 11, 2004 8:13:32 GMT
Obviously we need to do more than just hold Ceremonial meetings. Important as they are,there must be other work done at Lodge nights, OR we need to set up regular instruction/discussion sessions inbetween our Regular meetings.
We routinely have "Labour to refreshment" on the programme when not holding one of the 3 degree ceremonies, where such things as use of the compass is explained - such as Islamic Patterns, constructing the "tree of Life" (Kabbalism to those who Know).
For the Craft to expand we must be an active organisation and may I suggest play down the "money and good deads" bit. Some cowans fear joining because they beleive it will cost them a packet!
Once we are again vibrant altruism will revive of it's own accord.
cheers, Hubert.
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Post by symbol on Dec 4, 2004 13:27:55 GMT
I would agree with the above , to have lectures/discussions would be most useful especially if it was symbols and their meanings etc, this could give people something to talk about inthe outside world and not mumble on about rituals and the goodness of man which whilst valid is all a bit vague for those outside and to be honest often awkward to explain.
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Post by atarnaris on Dec 5, 2004 17:33:54 GMT
Obviously we need to do more than just hold Ceremonial meetings. Important as they are,there must be other work done at Lodge nights, OR we need to set up regular instruction/discussion sessions inbetween our Regular meetings. We routinely have "Labour to refreshment" on the programme when not holding one of the 3 degree ceremonies, where such things as use of the compass is explained - such as Islamic Patterns, constructing the "tree of Life" (Kabbalism to those who Know). For the Craft to expand we must be an active organisation and may I suggest play down the "money and good deads" bit. Some cowans fear joining because they beleive it will cost them a packet! Once we are again vibrant altruism will revive of it's own accord. cheers, Hubert. YES,YES,YES to all the above...
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Post by atarnaris on Dec 5, 2004 17:37:54 GMT
I have seen Brethren falling asleep during a Cremony. Excluding fatigue, or an ilness I beleive that boredom is to blame. Heck, if I will be in the Craft for 30 + years seeing the same 3rd degree I'll probably start snoring. Ok, it's not good but do you get my point? Why don't we surprise Brethren with a lecture or something else? And then an open discussion? In European Freemasonry there is an Office called the Orator...
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Post by Hubert (N. Z.) on Dec 7, 2004 5:48:25 GMT
Apart from the "Labour to Refreshment" method we also employ a means by which a topic is included in the Agenda for the meeting and all Brn. are invited to give a 3 or 5 minute discourse on the subject. This greatly increases the sum total of ideas on any particular issue.
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Post by hollandr on Jan 1, 2005 1:37:39 GMT
I agree that we have to teach spiritual technology in the lodges. But my experience is that lodges are generally afraid of designating a brother as suitable to teach spiritual practices.
Even if the brother in question manages to out-live the senior brethren in the lodge and thereby gain credibility there is still the problem of GL approval.
Maybe this sort of work needs to be developed out of the lodge as a private matter for interested brethren.
Best wishes
Russell Holland
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 2, 2005 19:02:17 GMT
I think that the spriitual side of freemasonry can only be self taught by ones own research and understanding as it is seldom spoke about by the "average" Freemason.
Please dont ask me to define the average freemason b ut i dont think you will find such posting on forums.
Is spiritual aspect of freemasonry taught in Co masonic lodges ??
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 2, 2005 19:05:43 GMT
With regard to the previous post it appears to be the same with symbolism in the craft in that one will find sybolism in ritual but further development of this side has to be looked at once again by the individual.
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Post by leonardo on Jan 2, 2005 23:34:40 GMT
The journey of "self" discovery is the greatest journey of all. This, I believe, can also apply to those on the Masonic journey as well. I have heard of those who chose to become of Freemasonry so that they can simply become part of a social club. These "Freemasons" learn little in comparison to what's really there and might as well have joined a golf club. No offense intended to anyone who is a member of a golf club. I mearely use this to make a point
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Post by hollandr on Jan 3, 2005 0:07:14 GMT
When I was a Co-Mason I thought there were 3 groups in the lodge:
- those who thought that the supper table was the measure of the lodge - these were all males from outside Co-M - visiting contrary to the GL directions
- those who thought that Masonry was an Art - it could be acquired through long apprenticeship but not taught - these people thought that much effort should be put into ritual work but the inner work could not be taught - it had to be acquired by the individual
- those who thought Masonry was a science - teachable by skilled brethren to those who were interested.
The social masons got on with the art masons because both agreed there was nothing inner to be taught.
The art masons got on with the science masons because both agreed that the ritual was important.
The social masons had no common ground with the science masons and manage to oust them by organised mass blackballing of a group of candidates brought in by the science masons.
Neither the art masons of the social masons were able to find candidates.
That lodge building is now up for sale.
Cheers
Russell
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Post by taylorsman on Jan 3, 2005 15:05:58 GMT
Russell, this happens in some Craft Lodges in UGLE Craft Freemasonry too and perhaps in other Constitutions. Now what I have seen is division between the Social Masons and the Art Masons, I haven't met too many Science Masons in the average Craft Lodge. The Social Masons just want a nice posh social club, and if that also helps them in business etc, so much to the good as far as they are concerned. They will judge a Lodge on the food, wine and ambience of its Festive Board or its Ladies Night rather than on the quality of its Ritual etc and a Brother on his wealth and other externals. They are also avid Badge Collectors and will place great importance on getting a "good" Honour from their PGM when the time comes. Generally they merely tolerate the keen Ritualists of the Arts Section (as you term them) and as for the Science Masons, they consider them as "freaks" .
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Post by Hubert (N. Z.) on Jan 3, 2005 21:16:18 GMT
Staffs, YES, the spiritual side of Craft Ritual is the MAIN emphasis in Co-Masonic workings. Our whole Ceremonial is litered with reflection on those unseen(generally) forces that direct their work thru' us.
Though not all members "see" or understand what is happening we teach, by example,allegory, etc that there is more to life than the purely mundane.
An annalogy would be the question of MEDITATION. We actually encourage Brn. to spend part of the 24" guage in meditation. This can only be indicated to others, not explained. Meditation has to be experienced by the individual - as any realisation percieved is usually non definable to others, -how do you acurately define the hue of a colour without actually producing it itself.
Example - look at the bright sun-lit sky with your eyes half closed (not the sun). then open them fully. The first view has a"sparkled" almost dancing effect about it - "The dance of Shiva " infact. That however is most difficult to describe verbally, it HAS to be experienced. The more on practices separate moments of meditation the better one understands it, the more proficient one becomes.
For me, All of CoMasonry revolves arround that form of teaching with the added pleasure of ceremonial work - practice makes perfect.
Russell made some pertinent comments, tho' here in NZ I have not found the same. Certainly in the past there were those that had a sticter ideal, and tended to push their view, but society is changing and now we have a more accepting membership, that understands the need for all aspects of self discovery, but still within the broad precepts of brotherly love, releif & truth.
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Post by gord on Dec 24, 2005 8:00:31 GMT
When I was a Co-Mason I thought there were 3 groups in the lodge: - those who thought that the supper table was the measure of the lodge - these were all males from outside Co-M - visiting contrary to the GL directions - those who thought that Masonry was an Art - it could be acquired through long apprenticeship but not taught - these people thought that much effort should be put into ritual work but the inner work could not be taught - it had to be acquired by the individual - those who thought Masonry was a science - teachable by skilled brethren to those who were interested. The social masons got on with the art masons because both agreed there was nothing inner to be taught. The art masons got on with the science masons because both agreed that the ritual was important. The social masons had no common ground with the science masons and manage to oust them by organised mass blackballing of a group of candidates brought in by the science masons. Neither the art masons of the social masons were able to find candidates. That lodge building is now up for sale. Cheers Russell Greetings, That was very good. I suppose I consider myself to be primarily an art mason hoping to find the lodge of science masons. LOL However, I'd like to propose that perhaps a good mason is all three of these characteristics. In contemplating your post I was able to see some of my senior Brethren in all three catagories. That was one of the best posts I've read on masonry. I'm glad it was still here, almost a year later.
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Post by hollandr on Dec 24, 2005 9:23:27 GMT
>hoping to find the lodge of science masons.
Divinator
I wish you luck. The only way I know to find a lodge of science masons is to build such a lodge yourself.
However, here is a test question that may help you distinguish a science mason:
"Can you rise on the planes at will?"
Rising on the planes is a qabalistic practice (note the spelling) veiled as ascending jacobs ladder.
Rising on the planes is sometimes taught in New Age groups but generally is too unfocussed to qualify as scientific. In my experience the qabalistic form is a bit inadequate also since it lacks numeric naming.
But if you have a sponsor on high and you petition enough you may be taught a technical form of rising on the planes suitable as a basis for scientific Masonry
Cheers
Russell
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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 Jan 22, 2006 13:52:44 GMT
When I was a Co-Mason I thought there were 3 groups in the lodge
I'd like to concur that the above tabula is one of the profoundest things you or anyone else has said regarding Masonry: specifically, when Masonry goes wrong.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 22, 2006 13:55:59 GMT
When I was a Co-Mason I thought there were 3 groups in the lodgeI'd like to concur that the above tabula is one of the profoundest things you or anyone else has said regarding Masonry: specifically, when Masonry goes wrong. Ruff ! a question to you then . Are you then of the opinion that in male only Masonry that there are 2 groups in the lodge
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Post by rockytriton on Jan 31, 2006 14:25:40 GMT
I think that maybe we just need Tom Cruise to become a Mason, that would probably help us gain members
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Post by ggramvik on Feb 4, 2006 13:11:05 GMT
Russell Holland mentions "Rising on the planes". Could you elaborate on what this means? gg
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Post by hollandr on Feb 4, 2006 19:58:58 GMT
Gg
As you may know the world consists of solids, liquids, gases, 4 etheric subplanes, the astral subplanes, the mental subplanes etc.
Rising on the planes is the qabalistic name for learning to control those frequencies at will so that we may take on any particular level of consciousness that we require to do our work.
The qabalistic form refers to Sephira and uses imagery and intent to make the connections.
For myself, I prefer number and intent.
In Masonic terms it is called ascending Jacob's ladder
Cheers
Russell
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