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Post by pw on Aug 12, 2008 14:52:47 GMT
Hi everybody my name is Paul and I have come across the word Freemason for a long time. I have always been unsure of the Societies meaning even after reading various descriptions and I would like to know how some of you first developed an interest in this and also what benefits you have gained from this? I am a firm believer that everything can be explained using geometry and mathematics and upon my research I always seem to stumble upon the same word... Freemasonry. Why is Freemasonry esoteric? What higher knowladge will I gain from joining? What higher knowladge have you gained? Thanks
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imakegarb
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One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 12, 2008 15:14:09 GMT
Greetings Paul and welcome to MFOL ;D You ask good questions. There is no set answer to each on, so I think you'll get lots of responses. I'll try my best. Why is Freemasonry esoteric? Well, it isn't that way for everyone. In each well-formed lodge, there are some Masons whose eyes glaze over during the ritual but who have the best time at the gathering that follows and they are very good at fundraising and the lodge's charity side. In this same lodge also will be brethren who study every aspect of the ritual and see something deeper - always deeper - meanings; but they stumble over what the first mentioned group of Masons excels at. There also will be Masons in the same lodge who fall somewhere in between. And if you pose your questions to each one of these Masons, you will get a totally different answer. And every one of them will be correct. "What higher knowledge will I gain from joining? Again, this differs. For in Masonry, we are all travelers at different points in our journey. What you *will* gain by joining will depend a great deal on what you brought with you. And even if I knew that, I could not say anything except "Come and see" What higher knowledge have you gained? I don't know yet, the journey is still ongoing. My favorite definition of Freemasonry is that it is a discipline for finding the divine within. I truly think/hope that's what I'm discovering. Still, I can't be sure but it's OK. I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me Thanks No problem. I hope you visit lots and lots ;D And, maybe, down the road, answer the above questions for yourself. Good luck
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Post by cosmicthought on Aug 16, 2008 4:48:32 GMT
It is a interesting path,i agree with the previous post's! it is a journey where after you have a map you know which path to travel too your destination and all road's head East! Do you remember the first time you bit into a lemon? I can not express what the experience was like!
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Post by hollandr on Aug 16, 2008 5:33:54 GMT
Hello Paul
>Why is Freemasonry esoteric?
That is a profound question. It is easier to answer "how is Freemasonry esoteric?" which is perhaps what you intended.
Freemasonry by intent and ritual generates a pattern that resonates with the higher worlds. This resonance draws the brethren into closer relationship with the Deity and with Creation.
Some lodges are good at creating the resonance.
If that is your primary interest you may wish to visit the temples in your area to see if you can detect the one most relevant to you.
Of course most brethren are not esoteric and put more emphasis on the practice of brotherly love. The achievement of brotherly (and sisterly) love is fundamental to the progress of the Deity
>What higher knowledge will I gain from joining?
Freemasonry, ever since its re-formulation in the 18th century, has been in search of its origin and meaning - and not with too much obvious success. Nevertheless some brethren have made progress.
I suggest that with meditation, spiritual study such as the qabalah, and some dowsing skill that it is possible to learn much from participating in ritual in a suitable lodge. Thus meditation to make the inner connections, qabalah for some frame of reference for understanding, dowsing to learn to experience energies systematically and a good ritual to provide opportunities to investigate.
>What higher knowledge have you gained?
I have seen some of the temples in the heavens to which Masonry aspires
Cheers
Russell
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Tamrin
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Nosce te ipsum
Posts: 3,586
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 16, 2008 7:33:53 GMT
I suggest that with meditation, spiritual study such as the qabalah, and some dowsing skill that it is possible to learn much from participating in ritual in a suitable lodge. Thus meditation to make the inner connections, qabalah for some frame of reference for understanding, dowsing to learn to experience energies systematically and a good ritual to provide opportunities to investigate. DOWSINGAustralian Skeptics Divining Test (Excerpt)
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Post by hollandr on Aug 16, 2008 8:00:40 GMT
Philip
You have much Masonic experience and spiritual study to draw upon, perhaps you would like to answer Paul's questions.
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Tamrin
Member
Nosce te ipsum
Posts: 3,586
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 16, 2008 8:08:38 GMT
Philip You have much Masonic experience and spiritual study to draw upon, perhaps you would like to answer Paul's questions. Perhaps later.
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Tamrin
Member
Nosce te ipsum
Posts: 3,586
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 16, 2008 14:25:58 GMT
Why is Freemasonry esoteric? What higher knowladge will I gain from joining? What higher knowladge have you gained? Esotericism is a term much abused. It literally pertains to that which is within (either within a group or, more especially, within an individual). Despite this, the term is often used to refer to superstitious beliefs outside of or contrary to reason: Such as in the actual, concrete existence of giants of fairy tale proport-ions; humanoid, alien visitors; mythical creatures, such as unicorns; quack therapies; and dowsing (all of which may be subjects worth considering, if only to plumb the psychological factors underlying them). However, Freemasonry is a rational science which was in the vanguard of thought during the Age of Enlightenment. Further on in one's masonic career, the mason may indeed be charged to oppose super-stition (along with tyranny and ignorance). Thus the esoteric tradition to which we are heirs is a discipline which properly and accurately corresponds to the term, pertaining as it does to that which is within each individual, i.e., their spiritual development. This esotericism enlightens the human condition; promotes our moral and intellectual development; and even provides a glimmer of insight as to our prospects. Few if any of Freemasonry's teaching are peculiar to the institution. However, many find its methods can be more convincing than traditional means of education. Whereas in a class room, one teacher attempts to instruct many students, in Freemasonry this model is turned on its head and many "teachers" focus on the one "student," the initiate, and bring to bear all domains of learning: Cognitive, by way of non-dogmatic information to assimilate; behavioral, impressing lessons on a candidate's mind through active participation in dramatic performances; affective, eliciting each candidate's emotional attention by repeated challenges and unfamiliar surprises; and hopefully, surpassing all this with the combined good will of those present contributing a spiritual domain and an attachment to their group "soul." This is very powerful stuff. The chief lesson learnt is that Life itself is the great initiation and Freemasonry effectively models our human condition and enables us to reflect and deliberate on our development and our present situation, our choices and our future prospects. Central to our tenets is the notion of Brotherhood. It promotes the recognition that all men and women, indeed all sentient creatures, are bound by the Mystic Tie, whereby we are each sprung from the same stock, are partakers of the same nature and sharers of the same hope. Freemasonry has moral, intellectual and spiritual tendencies with respect to all its genuine professors. These tendencies enhance recognition of the ultimate reality, which is Oneness, and those who follow this path increasingly come to see separateness as an illusion, individuality as a mystery and the one soul, the one "I", the One Life or, indeed, the one light shining and being expressed through All that Is, being that one aspect which is essentially us.
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Post by holist on Oct 20, 2008 11:53:44 GMT
... I am a firm believer that everything can be explained using geometry and mathematics and upon my research I always seem to stumble upon the same word... Freemasonry. ... [/quote] Dear Paul, There is difference between explaining something to yourself and doing this to someone else. Especially if you use geometry. If you do, you may use your spatial imaging, but you cannot be sure that a person you are trying to explain something is able to see the same. What exactly you mean?
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Post by generatics on Nov 2, 2008 19:39:19 GMT
Hi everybody my name is Paul and I have come across the word Freemason for a long time. I have always been unsure of the Societies meaning even after reading various descriptions and I would like to know how some of you first developed an interest in this and also what benefits you have gained from this? I am a firm believer that everything can be explained using geometry and mathematics and upon my research I always seem to stumble upon the same word... Freemasonry. Why is Freemasonry esoteric? What higher knowladge will I gain from joining? What higher knowladge have you gained? Thanks welcome Paul. my opinions: we're all unsure of its meaning, i'd say. and for me that's a tremendous part of the learning experience. Masonry contains a lot of information, from many places, but it has been designed in large part with the purpose of leaving the interpretation to the initiate or student or however you see yourself on the journey. it's the cliche answer but it's true, it's meaning is up to you. my own interest in it developed from always having had an interest in mysticism, and things ancient. about 5 years ago i came across a Masonic edition of the bible at my girlfriends house and became curious. it was her grandfather's. i soon after discovered that i also had a long Masonic lineage in my family, going back all the way to the late 1700's in the U.S. further research revealed the esoteric and spiritual aspects of the Craft, which were very appealing to me personally. i reached out to Masons, as you have, and liked what i was hearing from them so i gave it a shot. perhaps you will too. the benefits i have are personal and meaningful only to me. i'd explain them as a better understanding of myself, a better understanding of my strengths and most importantly, a better understanding of my weaknesses. as others have mentioned, pursuing the esoteric side of Masonry is the personal choice of every Mason. that's why i'm there, but i know plenty of good Masons who are there simply to do charity work, have fellowship or just to get out of the house once a month. i think it's important to respect that choice, and for them to do the same. the only negative i'd bring up is that for me personally, pursuing the esoterics in Masonry has been a struggle from within my Lodge as there aren't any others doing so, at least not that i am aware of or see evidence of. this might be an assumption on my part and pompous to think i could know what others are thinking, but i have been made to think this based on the ritual being performed in what i would consider a less-than-solemn manner. so i have to this point engaged in a lot of private study, which i'd recommend for any Mason to do anyway. there's SO much to learn, ponder, question and use. it's really incredible. for your interests, there are certainly plenty of mathematical, geometrical and other scientific principles contained within Masonry. and depending on your own interpretations, there may be even more for you than some see. again, the beauty is the open-endedness for interpretation. i'd say though, on a whole, there's a whole lot of numbers for you to play with in Masonry. i've watched others discuss the topic and have heard a wide variety of things crop up from Fibonacci sequences, to numerology, to cabalistic meaning, to fractals. it's all fascinating to hear at the very least. discussing these things with Brothers is one of the great rewards and certainly one of the great sources of Masonic knowledge, for me anyway. Good luck on your quest!
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Post by billmcelligott on Nov 2, 2008 23:29:52 GMT
When you get to the stage where you can say , 'What can I do for Freemasonry' you have arrived.
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Post by corab on Nov 3, 2008 12:29:12 GMT
I think that is "only" the knock on the door, to be honest. When you serve without asking that question and just give it your all, you know you have arrived at that place within where all things and no-things flow together and become One. When you get to the stage where you can say , 'What can I do for Freemasonry' you have arrived.
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