EXCERPTS FROM CONTEMPLATIVE MASONRY
From the Introduction
“As a Contemplative Mason, you will explore new depths, purposes and methods of operation for your senses, emotions, cognition and intuition. You will apply these skills to gain a deeper understanding of the symbols, rituals and teachings of Masonry. In so doing you will also achieve a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships with the world, other human beings and your Creator.” From the Entered Apprentice Chapter
“Contemplative Masonry is not just an academic approach to Masonry - it is a lifestyle. That does not mean that you have to start trying
to live your life completely differently. The contemplative lifestyle seeks to plumb the depths and clearly grasp the reality of any given situation, to be fully present in the here-and-now moment of authentic experience.” * “Beyond immediate awareness of your sensations, emotions and thoughts, there is still another level of mindful behavior, and that is prayerful behavior. In this context we are not
talking about saying prayers so much as we are talking about a reverent attitude. Prayerful behavior remains open to the Divine Presence in every moment. It seeks to maintain communication with your own
spirit and the intuition, creativity and wisdom that can flow from it. In prayerful behavior, every act may be expressed as an act of love, devotion and honor to God, another person, yourself or all of these together. This kind of action and
attitude has the potential to raise your consciousness beyond a personal perspective, illuminating the moment as the eternal ongoing manifestation of the Divine Will.” * “The imagination is an immensely powerful tool for contemplation. All of us recall the power of our imaginations when we were children. As adults, some of us are quite capable of visualizing and manipulating things in our minds. … You have senses in your imagination, just as you do in your physical body. In order for
the imagination to be as useful as possible, you must learn to experience those senses with greater clarity, and direct them with greater discipline.” * “…you will now work more closely with your emotions, and learn more about the meaning of the phrase “subdue my passions.” You will also practice techniques enabling you to
exercise a deeper awareness of your emotions, and to arrive at a greater sense of inner harmony and outward composure.” * “Passions are those emotional complexes which well up from deep within our being, urging us toward the attainment of some desired object or outcome. When passions are unrestrained and ineffectively channeled, they can flood the body with feelings and the mind with thoughts and images that seem totally out of control. However, when subdued and kept within due bounds, they can serve as a powerful source of motivation and fortitude in working toward a worthwhile goal.” From the Fellow Craft Chapter
“In the Fellow Craft degree, you have been encouraged to develop your mind. We tend to think of the mind as our conscious awareness. However,
there is far more to the mind than we are ever entirely aware of at any given moment. Holistic maturation demands integrity, and integrity is the result of integration.
Therefore, it is important to integrate the conscious and unconscious mind as much as possible, without breaking the due bounds of either. Dreamwork is a safe and time-tested method of
performing such work.” ** “The crisis point in the dream involved the image of a skull, which Bob immediately recognized as a symbol of death. …he had always been terrified by the thought of dying. …he had long avoided spiritual studies because of that fear. … Though this dream ended as a nightmare, Bob was very thankful for its message. After finalizing his interpretation, he felt a sense of relief as well as a greater sense of direction and purpose in his contemplative work. Today Bob reports that including such practices in his Masonic interests has been very
rewarding in all aspects of his life.” ** “Every Mason knows that his first duty is to God. In fact, every lesson of Masonry includes reverence for the Creator as the very source from which light and life emanate. …the foundation and the apex of all order and design. … Accordingly, Masons most properly polish and adorn their minds when they pursue studies in the arts and sciences that mend the rift between science and spirituality.” From the Master Mason’s Chapter
“Whereas the Entered Apprentice degree placed emphasis on behavior and emotions, and the Fellow Craft on the mind, the Master Mason’s task is to realize an integration of the spirit as fully as possible. This is not always an easy task, for the spirit is elusive, fleeing from our grasp yet always present. …you will be introduced to a technique that can help you
establish better contact with the spirit, recognizing it as the mysterious yet undeniable essence of your being.” *** “Every Master Mason claims that he sought the third degree in order to travel in foreign countries, and there work and seek a Master’s wages…. Ironically, however, it is
never explained to the new Master Mason exactly what is the symbolic significance of that work and those wages. …you are encouraged to seek a deeper level of understanding and practice. …a specific
interpretation will be offered for your consideration, as well as a very powerful tool in your continuing work as a Contemplative Mason.” *** "...one might think that the ultimate goal of Contemplative Masonry is simply to revel in such highly spiritual states of consciousness. However, this notion is far from the truth. One of Masonry's first lessons is that we are to divide our time equally among three important aspects of life: service to God and our brethren, our usual vocations, and our need for refreshment and sleep. This lesson is only one example of a repeating theme of balance and harmony. In the final exercises of this book, you are reminded to observe such order, ordained in Nature, as a routine part of your life."
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