The
Illusion
Brother:
Coach, what are your thoughts about Masters
and Fellow Crafts claiming to be Apprentices too?
Coach: It’s pretentious.
Brother: Wow
Coach. Don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think.
Coach:
What?! Not enough?
Brother: Well,
you usually start out responding to my question with your own line of
questions.
Coach: And?
Brother: You
cut to the punch line on this one.
Coach: It’s
not rocket science Bro.
Brother: Yes, but that’s
it? You’re not going to get into it?
Coach: What’s
there to say Brother? The claim is not only wrong,
it also exudes false modesty – a terrible illusion to put in front of those
who want better and an affront to those who do know better.
Bread Crumb Techniques
NOTE: A very special and sincere thank you to Bros. Peter Taylor, Nick Adair and RJ Gleason for their collective role in helping me in developing this discourse.
Bread Crumb Techniques
Brother: Okay. You see right there? You did it again.
Coach: Did
what?
Brother: You’re
planting the bread crumbs right in front of me to get me to go down another
rabbit hole with you.
Coach: Am I?
Brother: You
sure are.
Coach: How’s
that?
Brother: You want
me to ask you about all your statements.
This is even worse than asking me a series of questions.
Coach: Worse? Brother, you
know, we really don’t have to go there.
Brother:
No. That’s wrong Coach. We now have to go there and you know it.
Coach: Well,
okay, if you insist.
Brother: I do.
Going
In
Coach: So,
where do you want to start?
Brother: Let’s
start with your statement about the claim being “pretentious”.
Coach:
Okay.
Brother: Isn’t
that saying that they are attempting to impress others by affecting greater
importance on what they claim than is actually possessed.
Coach: Yes.
Brother: But
that doesn’t make any sense.
Coach: How
so?
Brother:
Wouldn’t it be just the opposite?
Coach: Would you please
explain?
Brother: Apprenticeship
is not more important as Mastery to a Master.
Coach: Yes, and?
Brother: By implying through their claim that it is, they
are claiming lesser title and being than they actually are.
Coach:
Yes. They are doing just that, especially
if they truly did the Work to earn the title they proudly, and hopefully rightfully, wear.
Brother: I don't understand this.
Coach: And
neither do those who falsely claim to be an Apprentice when they wear the title
of Fellow or Master. By the way, this also goes with my false humility
statement.
Brother: But I want to understand it. Would
you lead me through it please?
Coach: Sure. They
are claiming they are less than they actually are and are implying this is more
important, all under the pretense that they are still learning.
Twists
Brother:
Wow! That’s pretty convoluted.
Coach:
Yep. And they get away with this claim
most of the time.
Brother: Why?
Coach:
Because it's also implying that you’re less important than them if you don’t
buy into their illusion, that poorly portrayed false modesty, and the insane premise that to continue to
learn, you must be an Apprentice.
Brother: That’s
a warped mind game, isn’t it?
Coach: Yes,
and twisted heart game as well.
Brother: Heart game?
Coach: Yes.
They’re playing on your shame, guilt and fear.
Brother: Shame, guilt and fear? I don't understand.
Coach: They're assuming that you’ll feel ashamed and guilty enough to claim the same, even though you aren’t what they claim they are. All of this is banking on an additional belief that when you don't claim the same, they might confront you and embarrass you. And they play on that fear as well.
Brother: Shame, guilt and fear? I don't understand.
Coach: They're assuming that you’ll feel ashamed and guilty enough to claim the same, even though you aren’t what they claim they are. All of this is banking on an additional belief that when you don't claim the same, they might confront you and embarrass you. And they play on that fear as well.
Brother: Okay,
that is unbelievably emotionally manipulative as well.
Coach: Indeed. It’s an immature ego trip, mostly used by males who haven't matured emotionally. And anyone who has any misgivings about the
title they rightfully earned, may feel ashamed or guilty to say anything against this apprentice
claim for fear of being attacked and shown to be arrogant or less than for doing so.
Brother: Yikes!
Coach: The simple fact is this, when you have done the apprentice Work and earned the titles of Fellow or Master appropriately, you are no longer what you were previously - an apprentice. Fellow Crafts who have done the Apprentice Work will not buy into it in the least; they know better.
Brother: Yikes!
Coach: The simple fact is this, when you have done the apprentice Work and earned the titles of Fellow or Master appropriately, you are no longer what you were previously - an apprentice. Fellow Crafts who have done the Apprentice Work will not buy into it in the least; they know better.
The
Goal
Brother: Agreed.
But do you think anyone ever stops doing the Apprentice or Fellow Craft work.
Coach: Why do
you assume this?
Brother: It’s
never perfected.
Coach: I
don’t think this for a minute.
Brother: Why?
Coach: You’re
using the word "perfected” to denote "brought to flawlessness". Ritual does
not agree with you in this use.
Brother: How
so?
Coach: Perfecting,
as in “making the work flawless” has nothing to do with earning the title. Maturing enough to have the title does.
Brother:
Maturing rather than flawlessness?
Coach: Yes. That’s the goal. The Work we do was never about being
flawless; it was always about maturing and becoming suitable for the Builder's use.
Proper
Mindsets
Brother: Please
explain.
Coach:
Sure. You cannot be a valid Fellow Craft
until you bring Order to the Chaos of your heart. This requires maturing from Youth to Manhood.
Brother: That’s
the Apprentice Work, right?
Coach:
Yes! You bring Order to the Chaos of
your heart by completing the Apprentice Work enough to do just that. When you’re done, you’ve matured into
manhood.
Brother: But
what if there are storms that cause heart chaos afterward?
Coach: You
mean to ask, “Will you be unable to deal with them?”
Brother: Yes!
Coach: When you have done your Work you will. And you
will deal with these "storms" maturely when you've already laid the foundation and matured.
Brother: What
about Master Masons?
Coach: Likewise,
you cannot be a valid Master Mason until you bring Order to the Chaos of both your
head and your heart.
Brother: Both?
Coach: Of
Course! The two being ordered are what
makes you a Master Mason.
Brother: How do
you have them both ordered?
Coach: You do
that by completing the Apprentice and Fellow Craft Work enough to do just that.
Future
Storms
Brother: What about
the storms occurring afterward? Will you
be unable to deal with them?
Coach: Of
course, when you have completed your Apprentice and Fellow Craft Work you will. In other words, you deal with life at a Master’s
level, not at an Apprentice or Fellow Craft level. But you appear to think that just because
there are storms messing with the Order of either your head or heart, that somehow
this raises a question as to your Fellow Craft or Master’s qualifications. Right?
Brother:
Exactly!
Coach:
Brother, life brings forth storms that mess with our well-ordered minds and
hearts all the time.
Brother:
Exactly!
Coach: When
you bring Order to your head and heart, you have learned how to do it and then do
it as a matter of being.
Brother: Because it’s now who you are?
Coach: Yes! Exactly!
Brother: Because it’s now who you are?
Coach: Yes! Exactly!
Brother: Okay. And
when storms hit, you have the skills well-developed to handle the chaos at a
Master’s level?
Coach: Yes!
Brother: Okay, I understand.
Coach: Yes!
Brother: Okay, I understand.
Coach: Good! Give it back to me then.
Brother:
Okay. Because you’ve matured and gained experience, you’re able to deal with what
life throws at you more effectively, efficiently and maturely than someone with
less maturity, experience and skill development.
Coach: You
got it! Kudos!
Testing
Brother: But
isn’t it like passing an exam?
Coach: How
so?
Brother: Doing
the work “enough” to get a pass; in other words, getting that pass or title.
Coach: Meaning?
Brother: There
is still so much else to be learned
about the degree.
Coach: Sure, but
it’s not about learning more about either degree.
Brother: It’s
not?
Coach: Of course not. It’s
about moving from Youth to Manhood and then from Manhood to Age. The degrees only show you the path; they are not the path!
Brother: But much more work needs to be done to
perpetuate and prolong the stability of that “Order from Chaos”.
Coach: As I
said before, the Work will never prevent life’s storms.
Brother: Yes, but when doing that work the Brother is
working as an Apprentice, he doesn’t need Fellow Craft or Master’s skills to
progress it. Similarly he doesn’t need Master’s skills to continue with the Fellow
Craft study or work.
Coach: Only when you’re looking at it as an assembly line movement
from one title to another. However, this is not an assembly line situation. These are mental stages.
Brother: How's that?
Coach: Apprentices
are Youths. They are by their very nature immature. They deal with life and its
storms from an immature point of view and with immature skills.
The Apprentice Work is there to help them Mature and in doing it, it
provides vital skill development to handle chaos effectively when it occurs –
not if it occurs.
Brother: Okay.
Coach: But
more importantly, the Work helps them create a life of order which, when chaos
occurs, they know how to bring it back into order. When the Work doesn’t mature them, then the
Work is incomplete. When the Work
matures them, then the Work is complete. Get it?
Stages
Brother: Okay.
I mean, I think so. What about Fellow
Craft?
Coach: Fellow
Crafts are mature males; we
refer to them as “men”. They are by their very nature mature in their outlook, manner and being. They deal with
life from a mature point of view and they have the life skill development to
handle chaos when it occurs. If they didn't, they would be Apprentices still.
Brother: So,
what does their Work do for them?
Coach: It
cultivates their minds so that they can better help bring order to the chaos of the world
around them, make sense of things that bewilder others who have not done the
Work and prepare themselves for serious studies of things that are beyond most
people.
Brother: Like?
Coach: Thoughts, writings and discourses presenting, discussing and examining theological and philosophical issues.
Brother:
Interesting. What about Masters?
Coach:
Masters are mature men with experience. They are by their very nature both mature and
experienced with life skills. They deal effectively with life from a mature and
experienced point of view. If they didn't, they would not be Masters.
When
Enough is Enough
Brother: I don't
disagree, but I still think a "youth" can progress the Apprentice
work so much further than "enough", without necessarily becoming a Fellow
Craft or Master. Sometimes we need to become childlike to see the Light.
Coach: Yes, one can do the Work and never mature; this does occur unfortunately. Not doing the Work though is a guarantee that maturity will never occur. Yes, one can become childlike and in those times when becoming childlike it
doesn't mean we become children again. Or
in this case Apprentices.
Brother:
Indeed!
But, we do need to be free from pride, covetousness, and ambition, and resemble
them in humility, sincerity, docility, and disengagement of affection from the
things of the present life, which excite the ambition of some FC and MM. Children
do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from
malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their superiors. To complete,
(as if it's ever completed), the EA work, then we should have that state of
mind!
Coach: Wow!
That’s a lot to take in.
Brother: Yes, it is. It's what I believe though and I stand by it 1oo%.
Coach: As well you should. That being said, I shall have to politely disagree with what you claim from what we need to be free.
Brother: Yes, it is. It's what I believe though and I stand by it 1oo%.
Coach: As well you should. That being said, I shall have to politely disagree with what you claim from what we need to be free.
Brother: Why is that?
Coach: Let me
take every point you put forth; one or two at a time.
Brother: Okay.
The
List
Coach: Pride
is all about valuing something, someone or a situation.
Brother: Okay.
Coach: Being prideful can
be foolish.
Brother:
Agreed!
Coach: However,
it can also be wise. And with that being said, I opt for the latter pride and
leave the former to those who have not done the Work.
Brother: Ah! You’re referring back to the Work. Sort of like “mature pride” is okay?
Coach: Yes. I am indeed!
Brother: Okay,
I see what you're driving at. What about covetousness?
Coach: I have
no problem with ownership either; when it is within due bounds. That’s why we’re instructed, not taught, to subdue
and circumscribe our passions and to divest ourselves from all excess – no matter
how superfluous.
Brother: We're not
taught? I thought ritual says we are
taught.
Coach: Yes,
it does say that. However, there is a huge difference between being told to do
something and being taught how to do something.
They are two entirely different things.
The former is instruction; being informed. The latter is transforming with guaranteed results.
Brother: Yikes!
I agreed! You’re right! I see what you
are saying and you’re spot on.
Coach: Thanks.
And as far as ambition is concerned, once again, there is nothing wrong with strong desires to do or to achieve any rightful and
useful thing. In fact, it's vital to our personal and professional growth.
Brother: Yes.
Coach: This especially
applies when it requires determination, hard work, and it's earned with
humility and sincerity.
Brother: I see
your point here as well.
Coach:
Thanks.
Teach-ability
Brother: What
about docility?
Coach: Docility,
as in “easily being taught”, comes directly from laying the foundation that the
Apprentice Work entails coupled with what the Fellow Craft Work provides.
Brother: How
so?
Coach: The
Apprentice Work prepares us to learn
and in doing so, we are strengthened (with virtues) and we are released from unnecessary
burdens (divesting vices & superfluities) that get in learning’s way.
Brother: This makes
sense. Are you saying it's more difficult to learn as an Apprentice than as a Fellow Craft of Master?
Coach: That is exactly what I am saying!
Brother: This understanding didn't come to me until after we started talking about this.
Coach: You are not alone.
Brother: I'm not?
Coach: You are not. Not many Brothers have thought this through.
Brother: What about the Fellow Craft?
Coach: That is exactly what I am saying!
Brother: This understanding didn't come to me until after we started talking about this.
Coach: You are not alone.
Brother: I'm not?
Coach: You are not. Not many Brothers have thought this through.
Brother: What about the Fellow Craft?
Coach: That
Work helps us learn how to learn. In
doing so, it lays the pathways within our mind for learning easier those things
which would perplex the less trained and disordered mind.
Brother: Wow! I had not thought about it that way.
Coach: Many Brothers
do not who have yet to consider what the Work does for the hearts and minds of
those who do it.
Brother: What
about attachments?
Coach: As I
said initially, I disagree. I was blessed with this life and I have deep affection for
all the good it has to offer. Being a Master Mason, I have engaged more in life
than before I was one. That is a good
thing for all involved.
Who’s
Your Daddy?
Brother: And
authority?
Coach: As a Master
Mason, I have no desire for any authority other than my own and that of God in
my life. I've learned to see past outward distinction, but not be foolish
enough to ignore them.
Brother: What about malice?
Coach: I know
how to handle malice, even when it is of my own making.
Brother: Anything to add about being teachable?
Coach: Yes. As a
Master Mason I am more teachable than most who have yet to clear and strengthen the paths for
learning. As a result, I learn better and quicker than I have ever done before.
Brother: But
you are dependent upon superiors still?
Coach: I can
be, when appropriate to my end-in-minds. More importantly
though is that is I am appropriately
interdependent with the right superiors, because I have become independent
through my Work. I realize and know the benefits of working with others in harmony. Those with whom I
work believe as I, and we have no father save
the One True God.
Brother: Wow! That’s deep.
State
of Mind
Coach: Yes, thanks.
My point is this, we complete the
Apprentice Work when we have a mature heart and are ready for cultivating a Fellow Craft state of mind; that is, a mature
mind. Likewise we complete the Fellow Craft Work when we have both a mature heart and mind and are ready to cultivate a Master’s state
of mind; that is, mature and experienced.
The minutia of the Work itself is to get us to the next level of
maturity, experience and skill level.
Brother: So, it's not about the Work; it's about what the Work transforms within us that matters most!
Coach: Absolutely!
Brother: So, it's not about the Work; it's about what the Work transforms within us that matters most!
Coach: Absolutely!
Brother: But there
is a term in Zen Buddhism which means “beginner’s mind“.
Coach:
Okay. Where are you going with this?
Brother: It
refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions
when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a
beginner in that subject would. Like an Apprentice.
Coach: And?
Brother: The
Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki, says the following about the beginner’s mind, “In
the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there
are few.”
Coach: Yes. Please
continue.
Brother: As a
Masonic leader, if you assume an attitude of a beginner and believe something
can be learned from everyone you encounter, you begin to experience the power
of other positive leadership qualities.
Not
a Beginner
Coach: "If" being the operative term.
Brother: Of
course, but what do you say to that “if”?
Coach: As a
leader, you are not a beginner. You
are an experienced mature player and
you are expected to play that role without wavering. That is the reason you
were put in the position of leader. And good leaders look for opportunity to
learn to become better leaders. But, in truth, they are not beginners in doing
so. They have prepared themselves to
learn and they have learned how to learn.
These are not achievements of an Apprentice and a leader doesn’t fain a
lesser role or title, this especially when all who look up to him who have any
self-respect would think less of him for his false modesty.
Brother: Okay. So
what you are saying is when a Fellow Craft or Master is learning new stuff he
is merely "assuming" the role of an Apprentice, (as stated above),
not "being" an Apprentice?
Coach: No. I'm saying that when you are a Fellow Craft,
you have the Fellow Craft state of heart and mind.
Brother: So you're seeing through the eyes of a Fellow Craft and not an Apprentice?
Coach: Yes! And when you're a Master, you have the Master’s state of heart and mind.
Brother: So you're seeing through the eyes of a Fellow Craft and not an Apprentice?
Coach: Yes! And when you're a Master, you have the Master’s state of heart and mind.
Brother: Got
it! You learn at the level your heart and mind are at. |
Coach: Exactly!
Brother: So, there's truly a major difference between being a student and being an apprentice.
Coach: Yes! But just to make sure you got it, please explain it to me if you would.
Brother: Sure! When you're a Master, you have prepared yourself to learn and to be that student you need to be...
Coach: And?
Brother: ...and you have also learned how to learn as a student should learn.
Coach: So, you are a student and you are a teacher as well?
Brother: Yes! When you are an apprentice, you're not yet a student, even though you're learning to tame yourself. You're only preparing to learn (Apprentice Work) and you have yet learned how to learn (FC Work).
Full Circle
Coach: Exactly!
Brother: So, there's truly a major difference between being a student and being an apprentice.
Coach: Yes! But just to make sure you got it, please explain it to me if you would.
Brother: Sure! When you're a Master, you have prepared yourself to learn and to be that student you need to be...
Coach: And?
Brother: ...and you have also learned how to learn as a student should learn.
Coach: So, you are a student and you are a teacher as well?
Brother: Yes! When you are an apprentice, you're not yet a student, even though you're learning to tame yourself. You're only preparing to learn (Apprentice Work) and you have yet learned how to learn (FC Work).
Full Circle
Coach: Yes! Furthermore, claiming you are at a lower state
of heart and mind than you actually are, or at least should be, is false
humility; it’s pretentious and beneath you. When you've done the Work, you're more teachable and you have all the skills and maturity to make that occur swiftly and easily. You'll not get this from apprentices unless they have already done some of the preparation Work already. Most are simply too immature, too inexperienced, too burdened and too weak to learn as a Master.
Brother: Okay,
I see what you are saying and I agree. Apprentices aren't prepared to learn and are nowhere near being students. They're simple too rough to be put into that role. Fellow Crafts are smooth enough to learn how to learn and Masters are the true students...
Coach: Why?
Brother: ...because they've laid the foundation to learn! Apprentices haven't done this yet.
Coach: You got it!
Brother: I truly appreciate you walking through this with me.
Coach: Why?
Brother: ...because they've laid the foundation to learn! Apprentices haven't done this yet.
Coach: You got it!
Brother: I truly appreciate you walking through this with me.
Coach: And I
appreciate you walking beside me in this.
It means a lot to me.
Brother: How
so?
Coach: It
keeps me sharp.
Brother: Like
steel sharpening steel?
Coach: Indeed!
Behold!...
Brother: …How
good and pleasant it is…
Coach: …for
Brothers to dwell in unity.
Brother: Amen!
---------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment