A Brother Asks: Traveling East?

 

A Brother Asks: As we start our day in the West, can you explain the significance of Traveling East?

 

Coach: The significance (for me) is this, it represents a quest for Light, and it is not limited to gathering Information, for Knowledge is but Inventory only and not Power. 

 

Brother: That makes sense!

 

Coach: Thanks... Traveling East is Venturing Past the Gathered Light and into the realm of Masterful Application of that Light. When you do this, you have Arrived, and Actively Engage yourself in that End from the moment you do.

 

Brother: In reference to most of our studies are from men who have traveled, yet how many of us have truly passed into the realms of our Eastern Brothers?

Coach: That's the challenge faced by every aware Brother who takes on the metaphor of, "Travel," in his life. Does it mean only physical Travel? or does it mean to engage in Travel that Transcends the Physical, into the Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual realms as well. 

 

Brother: Meaning?

 

Coach: Meaning...

 

1) If it is the former, a Brother has yet to grasp what the metaphor directs him toward, which is a very firm way, "metaphoric understanding", as in, "beyond the Literal Interpretation of The Word".

2) If is it the latter, entire "non-physical" worlds open up for the Traveler for he ventures where few men can much less dare to.

 

Brother: Ah!

 

Coach: So
...

1) If you mean traveling to the physical lands of our Eastern Brothers, perhaps not many.

2) If you mean traveling into the actual thoughts, feelings and spirituality of our Eastern Brothers, probably as many.

3) If you mean traveling into the realm of those Brothers who have actually done both, most likely very few.

 

Brother:  Is there any other significance?

Coach: Sure...  it could simply mean that you're working toward becoming a lodge's Worshipful Master.

 

-- Coach John S Nagy 

A Brother Asks: Foreign Lands...

Brother: Can you explain something to me?

Coach: I’ll try. What is it?

Brother: I read the meme.

Coach: and?

Brother: Well, it doesn’t apply to me.

Coach: How so?

Brother: I don’t need to travel. I already know myself. I would like to travel to meet others in their environment.

Coach:  Okay.  Have you ever considered the inner traveling you undertook to get to know yourself so well?

Internal Activities

Brother: Yes. Lots of soul searching, meditation to clear the brain, talking with God, applying ritual in everyday life and how to respond in social gatherings.

Coach:  And you didn't need to travel at all to do any of this?

Brother: Not to any foreign country. I’ve been surrounded by people from many cultures and with those cultures part of their countries comes to me.

Coach:  I understand.  Can we take this in a different direction?

Brother: Sure.

Coach: Was your internal world known to you before you spelunked its hidden realms?

Brother: Yes, and I’m now free.

Disconnect

Coach:  How was your internal world known to you before you spelunked its hidden realms?

Brother: I’m not connecting with your question.  I need another clue please.

Coach: Sure. How did you come to know your internal world?

Brother: What was my motivation?

Coach: No. Did you have to explore your internal world in any way, or was it all explored for you since the beginning of your life?

Brother: I had to explore my internal self.

Coach: Was your internal world known to you prior to that exploration?

Brother: It wasn’t known to me until I left school and started in the work force.

Foreign to You

Coach: So, it was foreign to you before you explored?

Brother: Yes

Coach: So, when you traveled into that foreign land, did you find yourself?

Brother: Yes. It took many years… wait… now I’m seeing where you are coming from.

Coach: And?

Brother: The foreign land was my inner world!

Coach: Yes.

Brother: And I had to travel within it to find myself.

Coach: And?

Brother: That’s the foreign land to which the meme referred.

Coach: Yes!

Connection

Brother: That land was indeed foreign!

Coach: Agreed!  Thanks for letting me tag along my Brother.

Brother: Thank you for helping.

Coach: You’re most welcome.

Brother: I loved that new word, “spelunked”.

Coach: Thank you!  I believe it's appropriate.

Brother: Indeed!

Take Aways

Coach: So, I have a question for you?

Brother: Share away!

Coach: What are you getting out of the meme now?

Brother: That to find yourself, you must travel within.

Coach: And?

Brother: That inner land is no less foreign than any external foreign land to which I may sojourn.

Coach: And?

Brother: Finding my true self requires my traveling to that internal foreign land and exploring it as any other foreign land I may encounter.

Coach: Indeed!

Brother: Well?

Coach: Well what?

Brother: AND!!!  You forgot the “and?!”

Coach: Oops!  Sorry… And?

The Work

Brother: Neglecting this crucial Travel forever handicaps me with personal deficits that shall burden me wherever I Travel until I know my true self.

Coach: And?

Brother: I’m now seeing how important the Apprentice Work is.

Coach: How so?

Brother: It required me to spelunk my internal world as a foreigner until I find my true self.

Coach: Prep work?

Brother: Yes!  Doing it prepares me for what is to come.

Coach: Indeed!  And there is much Travel to come.

Brother: Indeed!  For all Traveling Men.

A Brother Asks... Freemasonic Participation

A Brother Asks: What should I keep in mind as I participate in Freemasonry?
 
My Response: Freemasonry in and of itself is nothing more than an opportunity to Introduce men to Masonry -- It is a Door.

Those who don't give any thought to Freemasonry soon come to service an ungodly Door, never Passing beyond It, but Believing with all their heart that they have. The actions they take upon this Belief delay the Travels of many Brothers, sometimes indefinitely.  

It is the fault of only a handful men who practice Freemasonry without any thought of Masonry that cause the problems that plague our Craft today.

Those who have given Freemasonry any in depth thought soon come to Recognize and Understand that it is but an Introduction to Masonry... and it is their Responsibility to let others know that "the Door it Reveals is not the Passage itself".  

Masonry Requires Travel, and it is not external!

F&S,

Brother John S. Nagy