Video: The Compasses - Circumscribing & Subduing those Passions & Desires

 

One of my latest Masonic Educational Videos on the Compasses as it relates to Circumscribing and Subduing those Passions and Desires!

 Enjoy! 

Coach Nagy

A Brother Asks: Proscribing Religion & Politics

Brother: Why are religion and politics not permitted in Lodges?
Coach: Why do you think they’re proscribed?

Brother: It causes a giant chasm between Brothers.
Coach: So, division?

Brother: Yes, they’re divisive topics.
Coach: I'll have to respectfully disagree then.

Brother: Why's that?
Coach: My experience has been that mature, respectful and civil souls have no problem at all discussing such things.

Brother: Then what type of member does have a problem?
Coach: Immature, disrespectful and uncivil ones. They absolutely have a problem discussing these topics.

Brother: Why is this?
Coach: They have not done the Work that enables them to easily subdue their passions and to keep their desires within due bounds. They’ve not brought Order to the Chaos of their hearts or minds. These members are divided within themselves, literally severed in two or more directions. These inner divisions show up as discordant conversations with others when they begin talking. It’s quite disturbing to be involved with such souls, especially when they’re passions are flowing all over the place and impacting others.

Brother: Okay, I agree with all this. However, that implies the reason we don't talk religion or politics in Lodge is that we know there will be uncivil people there.
Coach: And your point is?

Brother: The purpose for not talking religion or politics is to maintain civility.
Coach: Can I offer another reason?

Brother: Please do.
Coach: The purpose for not talking religion or politics is that it reveals the symptoms of immaturity, disrespect and incivility in those who have not done the Work. The proscription is meant to mitigate Lodge situations where these characteristics are present in those who have yet to do the Work. And by virtue of having new members who have yet to do this very important and crucial Work, you will have these characteristics present.

Brother: In other words, the lodge is full of immature, disrespectful, and uncivil men?
Coach: No. The lodge, by virtue of bringing new members in, contains them; more in some than others. The proscription is there to assure that even when the Lodge has these elements, they are less likely to interfere with the work to be done.

Brother: Again, I agree.
Coach: Thanks! Why are you pursuing this line of thinking?

Brother: I'm noticing a ton of division in online discussions right now, even to the point of Brothers being called "unmasonic" for expressing their religious or political ideas.
Coach: And you'll notice the cause of all this behavior is not politics or religion begin discussed. The disharmony is caused by immaturity, disrespect and incivility. In other words, it is the “Ruffians” in the mix that cause the descent, not the Master Masons who have cultivated maturity, respect and civility for themselves and others.

Brother: Agreed. Ruffians love their opinions and love to attack those who don’t share them.
Coach: Ruffians by their very nature are undisciplined. They have not done the necessary Work to build their inner temples. As a result of this lack of cultivation, their performance suffers, especially when their passions and desires are involved. They have natural deficits in dealing with others. They are immature. They are disrespectful. They are uncivil.

Brother: This makes so much sense.
Coach: Thanks! So, you understand now why Lodges proscribe such conversations?

Brother: Yes. It allows Brothers to interact on topics that are less likely to have their uncircumscribed desires and unsubdued passions interfere.
Coach: Exactly! The rule helps them work upon conversations that have less complicated issues and focus with the hope they will take the skills they need to develop and hone in Lodge out into the world.

Brother: And when they don’t take the time to do this import and crucial Work?
Coach: You end up blocking them within your on line activities.

Brother: Why?
Coach: Because they’re so immature, disrespectful and uncivil that they'll mess up, redirect and ultimately hijack for their purposes any worthwhile thread that you make effort to create.  That's how damaging their internal baggage actually is to others when they have yet to subdue and circumscribe it.

Brother: Ah!  Back to doing the internal Work.
Coach: Mastery starts there my Brother.  Without it, nothing you say can be taken seriously.

Brother: And if your word cannot be trusted, it might as well be taken out and disposed of.
Coach: Yep.  Without the proper circumscription and subduing, your word are going to cause more harm than good, especially when your desires and passions are fully engaged.  

Brother: Hence the proscription.
Coach: Indeed!

 

 

 

A Brother Asks: Passions' Radius?

 
 

A Brother Asks: We've been told that we are supposed to circumscribe our passions.  What specifically should be the radius of a Brother's Passion?
 
Coach: That's a great question.  How would you define "Passion"?
 
Brother: Something that a person feels very strongly about.
 
Coach: That's a great start.  I add to your thought that, while a desire is something that someone wants, a passion is something that a person wants so strongly that he is compelled to take action to pursue it, even if it means that he suffers in his pursuit and does so willingly!
 
Brother:  That makes sense.  How can that be translated into a specific radius for circumscription?
 
Coach: Knowing that he is willing to suffer, a Brother, by virtue of being held to account for his passions as prescribed by Freemasonic ritual, should set the radius of his passions short of causing any and all sufferings upon others that he is compelled to embrace for himself.
 
Brother:  I get it.  No other person should be made to suffer as a result of a Brother's passionate pursuits.

Coach: Exactly!  Let's make it personal. 

Brother: Sure!

Coach: When anyone other than yourself suffers because of your passion, you've gone too far. 

Brother: But what about those who are willing to suffer with you?

Coach: Then they by their engagements have revealed aligned passions with yours and are either directly or indirectly willing participants who, by their very willingness,  engage in suffering also, and do so by choice!

Brother: But wouldn't you agree that if such suffering results in damage then you've went too far?

Coach: Wouldn't that truly depend upon what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice to obtain it?

Brother: How so?

Coach: I agree that collateral suffering even to the point of damage is an unwarranted imposition upon those who have not agreed to suffer along with you in your pursuits. 

However, if you willingly suffer to the point of damage to your person, yea even your life, then you have a desire in your heart that is to you worth more than your person.

This does occur when passions run high and is usually viewed as heroic by those who benefit from such passionate actions without suffering themselves. 

Brother: Have you an example to offer?

Coach: Do you think Christ went too far?

Brother: Point taken.

A Brother Asks: How to Use the Compasses

 

 

A Brother Asks: ...how the hell would you actually use a pair of compasses to keep yourself in check? 

 

My Response: For them to do any good, you must first internalize them. 

What is the Compasses' Purposes? The Compasses is used for two purposes. 

 

1) The first use is stepping distances.  Those distances are determined by Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love.

 

2) The second is to inscribe based upon specific distances once they are determined.  Those inscribed lines represent the limits, "standards" and "boundaries", to which we must not go beyond and operate within.  Once again, they are direct reflections of Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love.

In a very real sense, it is your leash, but should not be confused with a cable tow: Those responsibilities you must take care of first before you engage in Freemasonic activities.

What are the steps to use them? To use the Compasses as it is prescribed, you must first determine what your passions and desires are.  These are those emotional states that motivate you to exceed standards and boundaries when you don't have your leash connected. 

What are Standards and Boundaries? Standards are personal operating limits.  Boundaries are social operating limits.  Each guide us in windows of operation when it comes to ourselves and others.

What are Desires and Passions?  They are references to two distinct groups of emotions. 

How do you know what they are?  Desires are things that you want.  Passions are what you are willing to suffer to get what you want.  Passions should never ever be acted upon if they are going to make others suffer or force upon them situations that they do not want.'
 

And please forgive me for not saying this up front: In a real sense, you do not really use the compasses; when you internalize them and it uses you.  I hope you "get" this.

See Chapter II - The Stone Builder's Tools out of "Building Hiram - Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education - Volume 1" for more information on Speculative use for Operative Working Tools.

F&S,

Brother John S. Nagy