FREEMASONRY: A WAY OF LIFE
By
W. Bro. C. Prasanna Venkatesh
Man has been from time immemorial in constant search of Happiness and Peace. He has developed and evolved numerous systems by which he has tried to achieve the said peace and happiness. The systems may be categorized as religious, political or socio economic groups or systems. The irony has been and as history would show, the very systems which were created for happiness were the cause of destruction of the happiness and peace. More blood shed has happened in human history in the name of such religions or groups than otherwise. All such great tragedies have happened in the name of creating a happy and peaceful existence through those systems of beliefs or religions. Those systems had miserably failed in maintaining peace, harmony and happiness in society, environment and the very atmosphere over the surface of the earth and water.
There did exist a class of enlightened individuals amongst our forefathers who saw the division amongst man, failure of systems and even distortion of the very meaning of GOD. During times of such turmoil and uncertainty was born a pure system which could be adapted as a Way of Life that is Freemasonry.
We have to understand that a society does not accept change that easily and "good" especially has to pass through tough conditions of existence. Therefore it was necessary that it be made a secret society, naturally carrying numerous stories and myths around its existence from time immemorial. We also have to understand that medicine has to always be sugar-coated for easy consumption of common man; likewise this peculiar system was also coated with several layers of sugar in the form of ceremonies, hidden mysteries, veiled truth, allegories and parables. Adepts who were sincere in Masonry, when their attention were forcibly drawn to certain peculiar circumstances during the ceremonies, and when they were exposed slowly stage by stage into inner meanings of life and above, A change dawned within them. A distinctive glow of inner light could always be seen around true Masons and their actions.
At earlier stages Freemasonry met with several challenges from many a great man and already existing systems of beliefs or groups according to history. This is the reason, during the ages, Freemasonry clothed itself with some apparent ways of the then predominant systems of beliefs to protect its Adepts from persecution and also with the noble intention of passing on the true Way of Life to the genuine seekers in the generations to come.
This system could be called a Way of Life because it has bypassed several anomalies which existed then and continue to exist till date in the other systems – either political or religious. Let us start with the concept of God. Much trouble and confusion has been created because of the misunderstanding of the term God or the names attributed to God. Though seers, mystics and sages like those who created Freemasonry also created those names, it has down the passage of time been corrupted by the confluence of cultures, overlapping of languages, political and tyrannical annexure of society and kingdoms of various beliefs and systems. The underlying current and the common truth found in those systems were never understood by the later generations and required a pure system which remained pure, which is none other than Freemasonry, thanks to its mystical and secret existence through ages. It might sound too much flattering about Masonry when I call it the pure system but I do not say so without reason. In Freemasonry, God is always addressed in his attributes and never by a personal name. Attribute can never be misleading and also never be in conflict with any religion or a religious perception a person may have about God. The veneration to the Creator is made felt by the Adept in all his undertakings in the Lodge and thereby makes him humble in ways and submissive to the will of the Almighty. Mind you the system through its humbleness does not make a man weak but on the contrary, he would exhibit the superior strength assured of divine support.
Next in line is the subject of political or socio-economic beliefs available in society which are conflicting with one another and in constant war for the quest of power. This is done away with in Freemasonry by infusing in every Mason that quality of equality and ultimately, to ultimately attain a state of equanimity or equilibrium, not by teaching but by a system by which the Adept understands the values. Taught values could change in the course of time but the ones understood can never be removed from a person because it becomes him.
There are several degrees in Freemasonry, each unique in its own way, deals with the Mason in different levels of evolution or progress as an individual and his development. At the inception a man however rough he might be as a raw stone, he would be slowly cultured and polished by the ceremonies and guidance and association of the more experienced Masons who have traveled the Masonic path, a greater distance. During such polishing in operative Masonic terms, a person undergoes a sea of changes in his basic outlook and perspective of thinking. He becomes a refined person and he being so refined, would be, in a superior degree exposed to more subtle things in life. It is indeed a leap from mundane to subtle but it is handed over to him after making him capable of withholding such knowledge for him to work upon. During the initial stages in Masonry others work upon the psyche of the new entrant through the ceremonies but at a later stage he is made capable of working upon himself to improve himself and help others too. That is the kind of maturity level he reaches on the path in this Way of Life.
There is more to say about the shaping of a person in a Masonic Lodge, making him fit for a superior society devoid of all evils a prudent man would desist. During his early years in Masonry apart from the workings on the mental and superficial levels of conscience, he would have to hold several posts or offices in the Masonic Lodge. These offices are similar to the posts of a guard, messenger, secretary, manager, managing director, chairman, priest, guide so on and so forth in the normal corporate world. When a person occupies these offices, gets himself fully aware of his duties to himself, Lodge and others and performs the said duties of all posts with equal humility and guidance of the more experienced Masons, he becomes well prepared to face the outside mundane world in the proper perspective and his way of functioning would have to necessarily be way superior when compared to ones around him.
These are moral and superficial changes in man, this Way of Life called Freemasonry brings about. But surely this is not why I call it the Way of Life. These initial stages in Masonry prepare and till the grounds for the real seeds of ultimate evolution or enlightenment to grow and flower within a man. There will be a time, every serious Mason would necessarily be, and by the holy system itself be exposed to higher truths of life. As the Adept Mason progresses daily in his Masonic advancement he would ultimately see what the others see not. It is not anything magical I am talking about. The dust called ignorance in forms of prejudices, preconceived notions, judgment, etc. which is presently blocking his vision slowly disappears, his vision becomes clearer and unadulterated by the coloured veils a person in normal parlance would wear and see through.
These effects mentioned above appear on the Mason by a constant working and deep understanding a Mason is made to arrive at, by several factors in this Way of Life called Masonry. To name a few and explain, would be apt at this juncture. The Adept Mason is constantly reminded of the fact that life itself is transitory and impermanent which leaves an everlasting impression on him and thereby relieves him of his fat ego. You cannot find a real Mason who is arrogant. A Mason values his values more than his life. The respect he has for mankind and reverence and adoration to the Creator is so astounding that one can never see his actions against the Universal Law but always in consonance with nature itself. A Mason whose heart having been made tender and kind by the system, cannot but be generous. His heart will melt at others suffering as his own and his hands will rush to help alleviate anybody's affliction or sorrow. At a later stage a Mason who has seen the light in the true sense and his ignorance or veils been removed becomes one with and abides in the immortal self thereby winning over the pangs of death as an ultimate gift from God or Nature itself for those who are persistent in pursuing the Path of True Masonry.
Masonry being a way, path or system, so well-founded on the principles of well being and well living, cannot but be called a Way of Life, There are anti-theories existing and being circulated in the market. Mind you these are done by such vendors who market their beliefs and systems to unassuming innocent people for profit in the market. They fear Freemasonry as it is well-known for its capability to pull an individual out of the congested market-like world and uplift him to a superior level of living. This system removes a man from the levels of mere existence to the level of Living life in its true sense. Freemasonry when lived makes a man Sober, Level headed, Gentle, Truthful, Virtuous, Honourable, Firm, Established and Accomplished. Tell me should not such a system be called the Way of Life?
One has also to see that I call this Freemasonry A Way of Life because as stated above, it removes all prejudices in man; it transforms a man of religion into a man of religiousness. Enables a Mason to become accomplished and thereby be rooted and centered in the Self and such a person cannot err in life, for it is well-known and undeniable fact that all actions emanating from such a true and accomplished person have to necessarily and naturally be right and cannot be wrong. Therefore to tread on such a path is for one’s own good and for the good of humanity. Hence I Declare Freemasonry is A Way of Life - Live It!
W. Bro. C. Prasanna Venkatesh
The Millennium Lodge No 327 & Lodge C. A. Ramakrishnan No 192