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In Masonic Initiation, the candidate
with no light within him is admitted as if groping in
the dark. When asked for his predominant wish, he answers
"L...". The blessing of material light is
restored to him. The symbolic material light thus restored
to the candidates Masonry considers is nothing other
than the symbol of truth and knowledge. "The Light
of all Lights; He is said to be beyond darkness; knowledge,
the knowable, the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts
of all" Ramakrishna in the following passage. "He
who realizes lswara in his heart is able to realize
Him outside too. He who has not known Him within himself,
cannot cognize Him elsewhere. Therefore, he who sees
God in his heart sees Him everywhere. References to
the Sun at its meridian, the setting Sun, the governing
Moon and the Stars; the symbolism of this light in the
Ritual indicate the importance attached in the teachings
of our Fraternity to this truth and knowledge. This
quest for illumination, a desire of the candidate for
more and more light for Truth and Knowledge is progressively
fulfilled to the candidate. The Chief aim of Masonry
therefore is to instill Truth and convey knowledge to
its aspirants. According to William Preston, to whom
the Craft is very much indebted. Lodge becomes a School
Room; The Master, a teacher; the candidate, a pur. In
this orderly fashion he says, the whole system of learning
is set forth for the five senses to the fine arts-making
abundantly clear that no man of remain a genuine Mason
who holds truth lightly or choses to remain ignorance.
"The liar and the ignoramus may some how get into
Masonry, I no Masonry can get into them".
Truth and knowledge are not the same.
Truth is desired and sought for the sake of living happily
and the items of information, which we need to has in
order to know the Truth, is knowledge. As human beings,
we are influence in the midst of life. We are set in
the midst of a world in the background Nature, a system
of positive forces. The meridian Sun, the setting Sun
a the governing Moon by day and night influence our
existence with nature processes. Likewise the life of
other human beings impinge upon us the lives interacting
with ours. The forces in our own selves - our body,
minemotions and volitions are also constantly at play.
Thus life goes in incesantly influencing and being influenced.
If we know how to operate, organi and govern the force
of our life, we derive great benefit form them and gane
balance, poise and efficiency. So a harmonious adjustment
with the prop understanding of the forces of nature,
the world, and ourselves, our life made full, rich and
happy Truth is therefore our realisation of what nature
the world and life really are. The Mason in effect is
one who desires tru and seeks knowledge in order to
live happily.
Truth must be sought for. It is not
an entity lying outside us. "It is living and changing
thing, which must ever more be possessed a new, a far
which is hauntingly bodied forth in our legend of the
Lost Word, and or search therefor". Truth is not
somethig that can be handed by one another. Each Mason
must go in search for it and win it for himself. Be
there are countless ways in which we can help each other
to find the light None can come into possession of the
Light by virtue only belonging to Creed. Masonry do
not claim to have a creed. If one is to be a truth seeker,
he must be open minded; willing to learn un-learn; be
prepared revise his opinions to conform to newly learned
facts and not be afraid of departing from the crowd
if the light leads him new directions. A Mason must
be free himself, if he is to find the light and also
be willing to accept others to be equally free. This
is toleration and really means that if one goes in search
for his Lost Word, he may choose his own path and also
not place obstacles in the path followed by others.
Masonry respects this is as much as the Secred writing
of all the members adorn the Holy Altar in the Lodges.
Masonry would not countenance ignorance
and so aims at liquidating the mental darkness of the
aspirant. Englightenment is a thing which every Mason
stands pledged to seek and seek he must if he is to
be a Mason in fact as well in name. Considering the
ample opportunities to learn Knowledge and Truth, there
is no excuse for ignorance. The acquisition of knowledge
is for every Man's own choosing, Masonry offers no recipe
for an education. He may learn from books, gain information
by himself or from a master. He may learn from experience,
observation and from his work. Right through the Ceremonies
of the three degrees, the Masonic aspirant is hinted
to study the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science;
the liberal arts and Geometry the basis of our art.
Finally his attention is directed to the most interesting
of all human studies; the knowledge of himself and to
listen to the voice of nature. He is asked to establish
their value and persevere steadily in the prectice of
every virtue. By making such progress, he is enjoined
to afford the best example for the conduct of others.
"Whatsoever the superior person does that is followed
by others. What he demonstrates by action, that people
follow'. (Bhagavad Gita - Ch. III Vs. 21).
The greater Truths are too vast to
be won easily and mankind has to strive hard to discover
the whole of Truth. It always opens before us like an
ever-receding goal. But ever more must we continue to
seek it, even as a Masonic candidate, assisted by the
Rituals in such ways as is possible, and amidst obstacles,
gradually through the darkness makes his progress from
station to station, from degree, seeking light and more
light for that mystic Word Which is Truth itself.
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