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The advent of Freemasonry on the soil
of the land of the ancient Rishis of India augurs well
for the future of our country and the world at large.
It may well prove to be the beacon light to revive our
ancient learning and culture that brought to ancient
India, its name and fame from all over the world. The
power generated then it is still with us and visible
in many forms though we forgot our heritage and turned
to the west for a better and happier life. All is not
lost. It still runs through the veins of our youths
who caught with the spirit of the Age, flock to Freemasonry.
They have only to approach Freemasonry in the right
way and with the right spirit to give expression to
this power that is already within and working in them.
It is the same power that actuates our Swamijis to go
out of the country to preach our philosophy and teach
our ancient wisdom and sow the seeds of Joy. Even today
many from all over the globe seek refuge in our philosophy
and find solace and peace within. Some do come to enjoy
the austerity and hospitality forgetting the many luxuries
they enjoy at home just to find Peace within. While
the missionaries of the west with a philosophy wedded
to the material prosperity of man unsuccesfully labour
to build and give strength to the forces of the good,
our Swamijis are laying the foundations to create a
world of Joy and Progress.
We look to Freemasonry as an instrument
of Power to radiate Peace and Prosperity in a world
fraught with distrust, dishonesty and dissensions, threatening
us with a nuclear war that could put an end to all lives
and creation. Freemasonry can help only those who take
to it with Faith in its teachings and are willing to
follow them in actual life Freemasonry is not a club
or an association for recreation or even to diffuse
humanitarian services like the many that have sprung
up in the world in the name of welfare of mankind"
Not is it an organisation that teaches man to attain
Wisdom, Strength and Beauty through the united aid of
the Fraternity. Wisdom lies in the realisation of the
Values of life that Freemasonry enables us to acquire
through practices and in it lies Strength and Beauty.
The world can progress only when the
individuals in it are happy and thriving. The recorded
history of the world is the story of man struggling
to lead a peaceful and happy life. it is a sordid tale
of Hope, Fear and Frustration through intolerance and
lust for power to dominate and an ignorance of life
and its ambitions. History repeats itself. But man fails
to learn its lessons.
Two thousand years ago, in the beginning
of the rise of Christianity, man was caught with a hope
that spread like wild fire throughout the length and
breadth of the then known world, only to find himself
caught with a fear from a kind of hierarchy that, in
the name of a God of Love, preached crusades, ruined
civilizations and created suffering and misery untold.
But this was not all. Political authority needs for
sustenance liberal doses of palliative like the enforcement
of miserable conditions as a necessary virtue and a
firm handling of rebellion against social inequities
with fire and sword for they are labelled as mortal
sins. Man's hopes were thus shattered beyond expression.
But still, the beginning of the 19th
century gave rise to a new kind of hope evolved by the
economists and politicians of the day. Liberty, Equality
adn Fraternity became a slogan that gave hope to many,
for, it assured freedom from the fetters of a tyrannous
hierarchy and permitted the freedom of life to work,
earn, possess and enjoy life decently Additionally man
himself was to rule by himself through his chosen representatives
whose actions would be guided and controlled by the
Fundamental Rights of Man. Every governing authority
gave its solemn assurance by engraving the fundamental
rights of man in its constitution. Man, surcharged with
hope, survived. Progress in the sciences and material
prosperity was rapid and extensive and it continues
to be so even today. But as man entered the 20th century
he soon found that without unity and right conduct between
man and man and right relationship between nations and
nations, the scope for peace in the world is remote.
Again man finds his hope tottering.
Is man then condemned to perpetual
slavery and misery leading to his downfall and destruction
? No, says Freemasonry. When he realises his faults
and mistakes and takes to the right paths of life, all
his problems vanish into thin air. The recorded history
shows how man with lust, fear, hate, envy, dishonesty,
falsehood never prospers These are his own faults within
that he can overcome by cultivating Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth. In fact, these are they very ideals
he is seeking in life. He seeks it through establishing
relationship in his family circle, in his business circle
and in the many fields of life to which his aptitudes
and attitudes direct him. He wants Love that is pure
and un-adulterated. Love in its abstract sense is a
potent antidote that destroys hate, fear, envy, lust,
anger, frustration, pride and the many kinds of anxieties
and worries which man is a victim. It is only Love can
create tolerance and harmony within, man of love sees
the hand of God in every kind of adverse situation,
so much so, that never experiences the chilling hand
of fear.
Relief is Charity in its larger sense.
It compassion which is not to be measured terms of material
benefits rendered. It lies the kind of solace given
to the burdened hears and distressed souls. To give
a patient hearing or a cheery smile is giving tons of
gold the sick and distressed, The truth of this statement
has to be experienced and realised through practices
that Freemasonry enjoins us to do 'Knowing by Doing'
is the best kind of education.
Truth is a word that we commonly seems
understand as opposed to falsehood. But sage say that
it is something exprienced within and related to the
realities of life in general. What ever it is, one thing
must be apparent to all. To be true to oneself is a
virtue. A Mason cut be true to himself only when he
faithfully for lows the principles and tenets of Freemasonry
in his thoughts, words and deeds. It is a power that
defies death even. Socrates living in Truth defied death
for death had no torrors for him. In fact he elecated
death to a higher and noble state of life and walked
into it with storm courage.
With these there virtues alone in life
man acquires power to do good to the world and to himself.
There are other kinds of excellence taught by Freemasonry
to help a man lead respectable life, be useful to mankind
and an ornament to the society to which he belong. Many
are its great and invaluable privileges fased on the
scientific of life. The way to right thinking and right
action, to enjoy life and radiate peace to a troubled
world lies to nursing and cultivating Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth. S.M.I.B.
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