INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPLATIVE MASONRY

Each one of us is the point within the circle. Each one of us therefore, is expected to radiate from such a center, the rays of his illumined mind, which is the sun of his microcosmic universe. The mental and spiritual radiations of every Mason should extend in every direction, so closely, that they fill the circle of his environment in such wise as to guide those who are, like himself, seeking light… regarding the great problems of existence, man’s whence, why and whither.
Freemasonry holds a key to those Mysteries. Each Mason has the privilege of unlocking them, if he but realizes the powers latent within himself.
   George W. Plummer, “The Signature of the Soul,” Esoteric Freemasonry

“Whence, why and whither?”  These three questions, pleadings from the darkness of mere existence, prompted the seeking that led many of us to the door of Masonry. Somehow, as outsiders we accurately perceived that the Craft offered a special light.  In seeking initiation, we believed that Masonry could be the companion of our various religions, and a means by which the great mysteries of existence could be more fully revealed.  After receiving initiation, we hoped that somewhere within its edifice we would find contemplative brethren who could guide us along such a path.  Unfortunately, except for the most rare cases, Masonry has responded to such desires with debate, confusion, silence and only the dimmest flickers of light from an ancient unseen source.

The idea, the practice and the movement of Contemplative Masonry seeks to fulfill that vision.  Its mission is to offer every Master Mason education, training, guidance and fellowship in his rightful pursuit of more spiritual light in Masonry.  Contemplative Masonry does not denigrate other Masonic purposes and pursuits, such as academic research, community service, charity, and moral and social brotherhood.  Rather, it seeks to compliment and enhance the whole.  It is also important to note that Contemplative Masonry does not seek to make a religion of the Craft.  It maintains, even supports and pays homage to every Mason’s right and responsibility to exercise his own form of faith.  Likewise, Contemplative Masonry imposes no doctrines or creeds upon its practitioners.

Contemplation Defined

In its popular usage, contemplation refers to a careful consideration of some thing or idea.  However, a more accurate use of the word is based upon its Latin roots – com (with), and templum (temple).  In this context, contemplation is properly understood as a devotional concentration on spiritual matters.  The ritual of Masonry refers directly to this meaning when it says Speculative Masonry “leads the contemplative to view with reverence and admiration the glorious works of creation, and inspires him with the most exalted ideas of the perfections of his Divine Creator.”  Contemplation is also encouraged each time the ritual recommends that the Mason consider, meditate, ponder or reflect upon some teaching or emblem.

Speculative and Contemplative Masonry

In Contemplative Masonry, we use the skills of mindfulness, meditation and imagery to gain Light beyond that revealed in the usual moral and fraternal "speculations" of Craft Masonry. These methods are later explained in greater detail. We further distinguish Contemplative Masonry as a specialization within Speculative Masonry on these grounds:

(1)  The term "speculate," as commonly understood, carries with it the connotation of guesswork, toying with ideas and generating hunches.

(2)  In a Masonic context, "speculative" most commonly refers to the moral and fraternal interpretations of our symbols, and serves to differentiate from "operative” stonemasonry.

(3)  The word “contemplate” is specifically used in Masonic ritual to refer to a reverent and inspired consideration of Masonry’s spiritual implications.

       In full recognition of the actual meanings of these words, their common usage, and what is literally said in Masonic ritual, it is clear that contemplation more fully yields the fruits of Speculative Masonry. Thus Contemplative Masonry may be thought of as a deeper, more disciplined and potentially rewarding approach within Speculative Masonry.

Purpose of Contemplative Masonry

The Contemplative Mason seeks spiritual wisdom and understanding by the application of mindfulness, meditation and imagery to Masonic teachings and emblems. Masonry teaches us that her desire is to have us mature in behavior, mind and spirit as individuals, and thus be enabled to work together for the betterment of other individuals and society. In other words, Masonry's purpose is the psychospiritual development of its members, who are then expected to assist others in the same as they pursue their relatively conventional lives.  Contemplative Masonry enhances and accelerates that process.

Like all esoteric spiritual traditions, Masonry has a mission to transform human beings in certain ways. Masonry's calling is to produce psychospiritual maturity that manifests within the pursuit of one’s "usual vocations." This mission of Masonry is made perfectly clear in the ritual explanations of our symbols, such as when the three steps on the Master’s Carpet are paralleled with youth, manhood and age as well as apprenticeship, craftsmanship and mastery.  But psychospiritual maturity is not limited to the maturity that we usually associate with the aging process. Conventional maturity is simply the ability to behave in ways that are socially acceptable, and to make decisions that are reasonably sound. In fact, Masonry requires that its candidates already exhibit these qualities. Thus the maturation of a Mason must be something more.  

        Masonry teaches us that we are Temple builders, and charges each of us to consider ourselves as living stones for the Celestial Temple “not made with hands.”  Like building blocks, we are meant to have a strong and beautiful form, squared and properly dimensioned in our souls. The message is that as we contemplate our path through Masonry, we should naturally learn and grow in a way that leads us to be more spiritually whole, psychologically balanced and productive in working with others to our mutual benefit.

        The degrees of Masonry are our tracing board, and they show us the plans and pattern that we should follow: candidacy, apprenticeship, craftsmanship and mastery. Candidacy is fulfillment of conventional maturation, the lowest common denominator of the Craft. Apprenticeship emphasizes laboring at the improvement of our moral behavior and management of our passions. Craftsmanship is the level of skilled labor, where one begins to understand and work with the underlying concepts and principles of Masonry at deeper levels of the intellect. Mastery is that phase at which one is a living embodiment of the Craft itself, having united all these parts and fitted them together with such exact nicety that they form a unity of wisdom, strength and beauty.

Methods of Contemplative Masonry

The skills of a Contemplative Mason fall into four general categories: meditation, mindfulness, imagery and study.  These skills are developed and brought to bear on Masonic philosophy and symbolism, and upon the Contemplative Mason’s own psyche, like a set of fine working tools.

Meditation is many things to many people, and thus hard to define in a way that is acceptable to all. In general, it refers to any effort to focus the mind on a single subject. Formalized meditation makes use of special breathing and relaxation techniques that can assist in focusing and intensifying this process. That intense focus may be on no thing or thought at all. It may be on a single idea, or it may be on a single image associated with many ideas. Prayer, for example, is a common form of meditation, as is the careful pondering of a work of art.  In very deep states of meditation, people often experience intuitive insight or even moments of mystical transcendence. In Contemplative Masonry, we will use meditation in all of these ways.  Mindfulness and imagery are also forms of meditation, but are here noted as distinct operations worthy of more detailed explanation.

Mindfulness is the effort to practice as much awareness as possible in any given situation, to act with clarity of intention and purpose. In some traditions it is simply referred to as the practice of awareness, or observation. It is called "mind-full," because to practice it brings the conscious mind fully into the actions of the body, the feelings of emotion, and the will of the spirit.  When one practices mindfulness well, then the meaning and significance of every moment becomes more clear.  We connect at a deeper level with our companions, and with our own spirit.  Contemplative Masons practice mindfulness as the foundation of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and are especially mindful while participating in Masonic activities.

Imagery is the skilled use of the imagination. At its deepest levels it can be like lucid dreaming, where the individual experiences realistic sensations and spontaneous events that do not seem to originate from his own conscious mind. A significant difference between imagery and dreaming is that the practitioner of imagery remains in conscious control.  Imagery makes it possible for us to interact with aspects of our own psyches, examine symbols and explore our thoughts in a way that is not unlike the virtual reality simulations now being used in the most advanced fields of technology and education.  In Contemplative Masonry we are most involved in applying these operations in the context of Masonic legend and symbolism.

Meditation, mindfulness and imagery are supported by scholarly study, which is in turn enhanced by them.  The scholarly approach to Masonry is a very honorable and worthwhile pursuit, and it has a very important role with regard to Contemplative Masonry.  However, we must always be careful not to think of them as one and the same. Reading and writing about the spiritual aspects of Masonry does not necessarily qualify one as a Contemplative Mason.  It is very important to keep in mind that a true contemplative routinely exercises the faculties of his psyche in ways that are not limited to typical academic methods.  He learns to employ those faculties with the proper measures of force and precision so that he not only gains interesting knowledge, but also actually experiences the truth within that knowledge.

Becoming a Contemplative Mason

In actuality, a Contemplative Mason is any Mason who practices a discipline involving some combination of mindfulness, meditation and imagery, and applies that discipline within the context of his Masonic experience.  There are many contemplative traditions that can be applied to Masonry, including Christian mysticism, Kabbalah, Hermeticism, Sufism, Taoism, Yoga, Zen and so on.  Masons already practicing such disciplines may find them perfectly compatible with Masonry.

Those among us who have not had formal training in any discipline could certainly accomplish a great deal by seeking out such training and practice. On the other hand, as was stated at the beginning of this introduction, many of us came to Masonry hoping that we would find that very thing.  Furthermore, many of us are hesitant to submit to one of the more traditional systems due to their religious requirements.

Ideally, a contemplative system designed specifically for Masonry should share the fraternity’s nonsectarian philosophy.  In addition, it should be based upon the three Craft degrees, which form the basis of Masonry in all of its variations.  Finally, Masonry continually teaches us that balance and harmony are of utmost importance in all endeavors.  Therefore, a system of Contemplative Masonry should have as its aim the development and balanced integration of all human faculties – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

Today, and perhaps for the first time in history, such a system is available to all Master Masons in good standing.  That system, Contemplative Masonry, is presented in the workbook, Contemplative Masonry: Basic Applications in Mindfulness, Meditation and Imagery for the Craft.  The workbook is patterned after the three degrees of Craft Masonry, and closely follows the Webb rituals as given in Duncan’s Ritual of Freemasonry.  Each chapter is comprised of a series of instructions and exercises with recommendations on frequency and duration. In keeping with the Craft’s respect for each Mason’s individual conscience, the book's commentary on deeper meanings of the rituals, symbols and teachings is kept to a minimum. It is written as a guide and workbook for those who wish to pursue Contemplative Masonry, and it is they who will supply the most meaningful commentary for themselves.  At the end of this introduction you will be given further instructions on how to acquire this workbook.

It is very likely that there are more Masons interested in a contemplative path than is readily apparent.  Many such Masons have simply abandoned hope for the possibility that they could join with their brothers in this kind of Masonic work.  Fewer still are those that regularly speak about such interests. There are some that actually do pursue such work, though usually in isolation and behind the scenes of their Masonic life.  There are only a very few that follow a contemplative path and are enthusiastic about discussing it with their brethren.  In far too many cases, the primary obstacle in these matters is fear.

To those among us that would take up this work, but are waiting for the Craft to make a larger movement to embrace and encourage it, we offer a quote from Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces:

The modern hero, the modern individual who dares to heed the call and seek the mansion of that presence with whom it is our whole destiny to be atoned, cannot, indeed must not, wait for his community to cast off its slough of pride, fear rationalized avarice, and sanctified misunderstanding. “Live,” Nietzsche says, “as though the day were here.” It is not society that is to guide and save the creative hero, but precisely the reverse.

Conclusion

            If what you have read here appeals to you, then we ask you to join us in the practice of Contemplative Masonry.  Keep in mind that Contemplative Masonry is not an organized association or club.  Rather, it is an approach to working with and experiencing Masonry in a more spiritually profound way.  Those that already have such a discipline established, and are simply seeking to network with like-minded brethren, are encouraged to contact us and receive information on how to make such connections.  Brethren that have been seeking an opportunity to begin working in a contemplative discipline should acquire the workbook. After you acquire the workbook and decide that it is the right course of action for you, you can immediately become connected with others that are in different phases of the work.  You then have opportunities to share the experience with others, and benefit from each other’s insights and questions.  You will also have an opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship with a brother who is more experienced in such matters.  In the long run, you may become a mentor to another contemplative brother.