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One of the most renowned sages
in ancient India was Svetaketu. When he was no
more than seven years of age he was sent by his
father to study the Vedas.
On his return his father wished
to test the ability of his son. He asked him "Have
you learned that by learning which there is no
need to learn anything else? Have you discovered
that by discovering which all suffering ceases?
Have you mastered that which cannot be taught?"
"No," said Svetaketu.
"Then", said his father, "what
you have learnt in all these years is worthlesst
thy son." So impressed was Svetaketu by the
truth of his father's words that he set off to
discover through silence the wisdom which cannot
be expressed in words.
Like Swetaketu we, normally mistake
knowledge for Wisdom. These two are different.
Knowledge. is borrowed, wisdom is the flowering
of our innermost being. We can boreow a plastic
flower. But if we want real roses, "then
we have to grow it in our innermost being.
In other words, Wisdom is that
inner awakening, the dawn of TRUTH, the enlightenment.
And that is the first pillar of Freemasonry.
The second pillar is Strength.
Strength does not mean physical prowess. It refers
to an inner strength that is necessary for leading
a happy life. Strength in Freemasonry means to
be strong from within. This is acquired by right
conviction and fortitude.
When the Greek philosopher Diogenes
was captured and taken to be sold in the slave
market it is said that he mounted the auctioneer's.
platform and cried aloud. "A Master has come
here to be sold. Is there some slave among you
who is desirous of purchasing him?" Such
was the courage of conviction in him.
A poet has written that a thing
of beauty is a joy for ever. This is so true,
for beauty means an expression of ourselves with
all gentleness - all love. If we learn of beauty
to be this, our own and so many other lives may
be transformed.
The most beautiful person is
not one who has won a beauty pageant but the one
who is always filled with joy and moves in that
joy irrespective of the external circumstances
or situations. Such a movement makes one a great
dancer. A dancer in this ballet of life. That
is what beauty means to us as Freemasons. Beauty
does not mean physical beauty. It is beyond the
physical.
This is the third pillar of Freemasonry.
With the help of these pillars
we will indeed be able to raise a superstructure,
perfect in its parts and honourable to its builders.
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