Monday, April 3, 2023

Random Building Thoughts - 2023-04-03

 

 

-------------- THE OB...  --------------  
 

"The obligation of the candidate 
is always to be taken on the sacred book 
or books of his religion, 
that he may deem it more solemn and binding; 
and therefore it was that you were asked
 of what religion you were. 
We have no other concern 
with your religious creed."
-- Bro. Albert Pike (M&D; page 11)
 
-------------- CHALLENGE! --------------  
 
FILED UNDER: ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE
 
A pre-mason sees this meme. He knows that you’re a Freemason and invites you to meet with him to discuss the claims made by the meme. You accept and let your worshipful master know about the meeting and its catalyst.
 
He says that this would be a great opportunity to show the fraternity in a good light. He says that you should know how to discuss the meme knowledgeably and challenges you to respond to each meme claim in writing as a preparation for that prospect meeting. You agree to take on the challenge.
 
The worshipful master gives you the following challenge to prepare you for the meeting.
 
The Coach's Challenge:
 
1a. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely "The Greater Good".
 
1b. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five examples of the greater good.
 
2a. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five examples of “diversity of thinking” within the membership.
 
2b. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five examples of continuous learning that does not involve lodge operations, biographies of famous members or Freemasonic etiquette or traditions.
 
3a. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely the difference between spiritual and non-spiritual without using religious examples or terminology.
 
3b. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely "enlightenment" and give five examples of an enlightened situation one should expect from participating in organizational endeavors.
 
4. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five examples of what those forefather connections are and how they will occur, without referring back to their association with the fraternity.
 
5. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely what personal growth and development one can expect, how that will occur and how long it will take to achieve.
 
6. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five examples of the dependability of members, other than showing up for lodge functions and performing lodge related functions.
 
7. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely five greater things that one will learn about through participation, omitting anything that relates directly to the organizational structure, operations, law, lore and traditions.
 
8. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely ten possible connections to the community that are not directly related to the organization itself.
 
9. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely how the organization creates the opportunities to introduce, cultivate and support new friendships.
 
10. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely the educational processes one 
could expect to understand the meaning behind each degree.
 
11a. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely the exact meaning of "esoteric" as it applies to the lessons offered by the institution and the lodges who support it.
 
11b. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely ten examples of esoteric lessons one could expect.
 
12. In one hundred words or less, describe clearly and concisely what an Initiatic experience is in general and as it applies to this organization.
 
 
-------------- MAY YOU! --------------  
 

May your thirst for Light be so satiated 
as to Inspire your Desire for more.  
 
 -------------- HUMOR --------------  
 
 
 
Me Two!
 
-------------- ANCIENT PHIL --------------  
 

"I count him braver 
who overcomes his desires 
than him who conquers his enemies; 
for the hardest victory is over self." 
--Aristotle
 
Circumscription advice has been around for a very long time. 
  
-------------- THE EXPERIENCE --------------  
 
 
FILED UNDER: 
You Can't Understand 
without The Experience!

"It is impossible to communicate 
an experience to someone 
who has not had the experience. 
Try to communicate the experience
 of skiing down a wonderful mountain slope 
to someone who has never been on skis. 
Try to communicate the experience 
of being in love when it happens to people 
who have never known this experience. 
It cannot be done. 
You can speak only by analogy. 
For a system of mythological symbols to work 
it must be operating in the field 
of a community of people 
who have essentially analogous experiences; 
otherwise, nothing is happening there."
-- Joseph Campbell, 
Collected Audio Lecture II.2.5,
 "Creative Mythology"

(AND the Experience is not the Ritual... 
It's the Experience of 
what Ritual points you toward!)
 
No Work, No Transformation.
Know Work, Know Transformation!
 
-------------- FRATERNAL KEY --------------  
 

The Fraternal Key handed to you opens 
more Doors than most dare to imagine. 
Investigate, Explore and Seek those Doors.
 
WARNING: Don't assume the key will do the work
of inserting or turning itself. 
You still must do the Work, 
including opening the doors, 
stepping through and making the most 
of what you find behind each!
 
-------------- BELIEVE IT! --------------  
 
 
If you don't Believe the Craft Pokes Fun 
at the Ruffians within their Ranks, 
you haven't Fully Comprehended 
the Basis for the Third Degree Drama.
 
-------------- OLDEN DAYS --------------  
 

 In the old days, 
Lodges were Convened only when 
Work was to be Done and Wages were to be Earned by the Craft. 
Today Lodges Convene for Labor 
and the Paying of Expenses by the Craft. 
Should we expect more? 
Not until the Paradigm shifts back.
 
Oh! For want to return to the grand imaginary past!
 
-------------- END --------------

 Be Well and Travel Light!
-- Coach Nagy ;-)

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