A good presentation. But I can't help feeling it is presented from a 'standardised ' point of view with the aim of discrediting any notion of esoteric principles altogether. Whilst I have - and do - enjoy your other videos, I found this one sadly lacking in understanding. Masonry is, after all, a large onion with many layers, each new layer peeled off revealing another avenue of research for the sincere seeker of knowledge- or not -. A Mason doesn't have to peel off any layers at all if they don't want to and simply content themselves with the outer - or exoteric - layer, the one all members are exposed to and (it is true) many do not progress beyond that layer. It doesn't make them a bad Mason though, the craft is simply to signpost a member should they wish to " Make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge ". One only has to look at the choice of symbolism within the first 3 degrees to realise there is greater knowledge and greater teachings at hand here for those who wish to delve through the veil of allegory and the hidden mysteries of nature and science. To simply reduce the third degree to the manner you described - and only to the way you described - misses the point entirely and leaves out swathes of the ritual itself which hints at esoteric teachings available to all with eyes to see. That said, if a candidate only understands the exoteric meaning of the degree as you describe it, that's fine too. It is only when the candidate begins to understand the ceremony that the signposts become visible. That, for me, is the beauty of Masonry. If what you see is only the first layer of the onion and your masonic 'career ' so to speak is built on that layer, that's fine. But to dismiss the other layers and then present them as (almost) irrelevant, is a shame and demonstrates a lack of understanding in my humble opinion. The understanding and deeper precepts of the ceremonies are already eroded and reduced to simply learning by rote without understanding or background knowledge. If, and its a very very big if, there is absolutely nothing beyond the first onion layer, and I mean absolutely nothing, then one would have to consider the choice of symbols and perhaps revise their use or do away with them altogether. Ditto the use of numbers and other aspects of the Craft. It can hardly be considered a coincidence these symbols were chosen in the first place, because to a careful listener of the ceremony, the hints are there to a deeper knowledge, the signpost to further research is clearly marked and (often) the research into history of the symbol itself reveals much (!) As mentioned above, the understanding of the ceremonies has been in steady decline for a long while, and the ceremonies are loosing their meaning, if they loose their meaning then they become meaningless. I'm afraid, this video has not helped.
I should perhaps add to my comment the following: You would of course not unreasonably expect me to explain myself further in order to defend my particular position. I must however state that that would be almost impossible on a format such as this. I'm drawing on literally three decades of research. I'm not sure how I could adequately respond to your satisfaction without writing a response the equivalent in volume to War & Peace and hope to do it justice. So I apologise in advance
Thanks so much for this detailed and passionate comment. As I indicated in my introduction and in the video description, this is one presentation that definitely does NOT accord with my own beliefs. Please don't forget that these are not my words. I am reproducing the work of others that may otherwise be lost. Of the 500+ lectures and presentations that I have reproduced on this channel this was one of the most disappointing for all of the reasons you have outlined above. With such a wonderfully promising title, I had hoped for much more! But, of course, Freemasonry is a very inclusive brotherhood, and I don't want to decry the beliefs of other brethren. To each his own. It is for this very reason that I will be launching a new channel and website tomorrow - 'Jesting Pilate'. This portal is directly and specifically aimed at exploring, in detail, the Western Hermetic Tradition and the texts and philosophies that I personally believe underpin the Craft. It literally only went live 30 minutes ago, and I'll be doing 'the launch' in the morning. If you'd like to be the first to visit, please go to th-cam.com/channels/4pi6IV11ZijThyJuisneew.html. Thanks again for your insightful comment.
this was a most excellent presentation. great work, as usual, brother. keep sharin, shedding and spreading light 📐🤝
Thank you so much 😀
Thank you. Your work never fails to impress me. Well done and keep up the great work.
Thank you very much!
Excellent episode!!
i know your voice from another chanel with the electric voice at the start 😊👍🇮🇪💪👋keeper lit
At 20:13 there is a diagram… I was wondering where this depiction is from?
You got me! It's a modern joke image taken from: www.genaralindex.com/education/examining-what-it-means-to-be-an-esoteric.html . Well noticed 👍
Was Van Morrison a roast recursion or theosophical theosophy theosophist what’s the what is the connection between roast cushion and theosophy?
A good presentation. But I can't help feeling it is presented from a 'standardised ' point of view with the aim of discrediting any notion of esoteric principles altogether. Whilst I have - and do - enjoy your other videos, I found this one sadly lacking in understanding. Masonry is, after all, a large onion with many layers, each new layer peeled off revealing another avenue of research for the sincere seeker of knowledge- or not -. A Mason doesn't have to peel off any layers at all if they don't want to and simply content themselves with the outer - or exoteric - layer, the one all members are exposed to and (it is true) many do not progress beyond that layer. It doesn't make them a bad Mason though, the craft is simply to signpost a member should they wish to " Make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge ".
One only has to look at the choice of symbolism within the first 3 degrees to realise there is greater knowledge and greater teachings at hand here for those who wish to delve through the veil of allegory and the hidden mysteries of nature and science.
To simply reduce the third degree to the manner you described - and only to the way you described - misses the point entirely and leaves out swathes of the ritual itself which hints at esoteric teachings available to all with eyes to see. That said, if a candidate only understands the exoteric meaning of the degree as you describe it, that's fine too. It is only when the candidate begins to understand the ceremony that the signposts become visible. That, for me, is the beauty of Masonry.
If what you see is only the first layer of the onion and your masonic 'career ' so to speak is built on that layer, that's fine. But to dismiss the other layers and then present them as (almost) irrelevant, is a shame and demonstrates a lack of understanding in my humble opinion.
The understanding and deeper precepts of the ceremonies are already eroded and reduced to simply learning by rote without understanding or background knowledge.
If, and its a very very big if, there is absolutely nothing beyond the first onion layer, and I mean absolutely nothing, then one would have to consider the choice of symbols and perhaps revise their use or do away with them altogether. Ditto the use of numbers and other aspects of the Craft. It can hardly be considered a coincidence these symbols were chosen in the first place, because to a careful listener of the ceremony, the hints are there to a deeper knowledge, the signpost to further research is clearly marked and (often) the research into history of the symbol itself reveals much (!)
As mentioned above, the understanding of the ceremonies has been in steady decline for a long while, and the ceremonies are loosing their meaning, if they loose their meaning then they become meaningless.
I'm afraid, this video has not helped.
I should perhaps add to my comment the following:
You would of course not unreasonably expect me to explain myself further in order to defend my particular position. I must however state that that would be almost impossible on a format such as this. I'm drawing on literally three decades of research. I'm not sure how I could adequately respond to your satisfaction without writing a response the equivalent in volume to War & Peace and hope to do it justice. So I apologise in advance
Thanks so much for this detailed and passionate comment. As I indicated in my introduction and in the video description, this is one presentation that definitely does NOT accord with my own beliefs. Please don't forget that these are not my words. I am reproducing the work of others that may otherwise be lost.
Of the 500+ lectures and presentations that I have reproduced on this channel this was one of the most disappointing for all of the reasons you have outlined above. With such a wonderfully promising title, I had hoped for much more!
But, of course, Freemasonry is a very inclusive brotherhood, and I don't want to decry the beliefs of other brethren. To each his own.
It is for this very reason that I will be launching a new channel and website tomorrow - 'Jesting Pilate'. This portal is directly and specifically aimed at exploring, in detail, the Western Hermetic Tradition and the texts and philosophies that I personally believe underpin the Craft. It literally only went live 30 minutes ago, and I'll be doing 'the launch' in the morning. If you'd like to be the first to visit, please go to th-cam.com/channels/4pi6IV11ZijThyJuisneew.html.
Thanks again for your insightful comment.
@From the Quarries duly hopped over to your other channel and subscribed 😀👍
Interesting content already, looking forward to your future videos!
Thanks for that! Very, very early days, but I'm looking forward to getting into some really interesting content.
i know your voice from another chanel with the electric voice at the start 😊👍🇮🇪💪👋keeper lit
Where? I don't think it's me, but I'd love to hear it!