|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 5:33:43 GMT
I thought that I would continue today with excerpts from Albert Churchward's work titled, 'The Arcana of Freemasonry.' Possibly many of you have read it, but it is rather old, and the chances are equally good that we will hit on some things that you might have forgotten, or that some of you have never even heard of it before... either way... Let' start the thread with an intriguing bit of verse, that is enclosed in the shape of... an egg... An unhatched egg... an unhatched 'cosmic egg,' maybe... It goes like this: Truth may seem, but cannot be; Beauty brag, but 'tis not she: Truth and Beauty buried be.
To this urn let those repair That are either true or fair; For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
Bacon Curious, don't you think...? Still, in the 'light' of what we've learned, so far, not altogether unexpected, I wouldn't think... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzdqyQYp
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 5:36:18 GMT
It would seem that the freedoms that the Brotherhood of Masons enjoy today, were not always extended to them... even though the present-day 'brothers' extoll their 'Christian' heritage, it would seem that your predecessors were mostly branded as heretics, and traitors to both Church and Crown... From 1738, however, Lodges sprang up all over Europe at a rapid rate, notwithstanding the bitter opposition of the Church of Rome, which fulminated against it in most terrible anathemas, as early as 1738, at the instigation of the Inquisition. Pope Clement XII, on the 28th of April of that year, caused a prohibitory Bull to be issued against Freemasons, entitled "In Eminenti," in which he excommunicated all Masons; and the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, by edict, in the name of the High Priestof the God of Peace and Mercy, decreed the penalty of death against them in 1739; and in May, 1751, Pope Benoit XIV renewed the Bull of Clement XII by another, beginning with these words: "Providas Romanorum Pontificum."
Lodges were established in France in 1725, and on the 14th September, 1732, all Masonic Associations were prohibited by the Chamber of Police of the Chatelet of Paris.
In 1727 Lord Coleraine founded a Lodge in Gibraltar, and in the succeeding year in Madrid, the capital of Spain, the stronghold of the Inquisition.
In 1740, in consequence of the Bull of Clement XII, King Philip V of Spain promulgated an order against Masons in his kingdom, many of whom were arrested and sent to the galleys. The Inquisitors took advantage of the opportunity to persecute the members of the Lodge they discovered in Madrid. They caused them to be loaded with chains, to be obliged to row in the galleys, with a scanty supply of food of the poorest quality, but plenty of bastinado. King Fernando VI renewed the ordinance on 2nd July, making Masonry high treason.
Well... I guess that would make you wonder why, wouldn't it? What does the Church and the Crown have against simple stonemasons...? I mean... we built their sanctuaries... And that's the thanks you get... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzfP2BmY
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 5:38:26 GMT
In 1735, The Grand Duke Francis of Lorraine was initiated. He protected the Masons, and the Craft flourished in Italy until 1737, when Juan Gascon of Medicis, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued a decree of prohibition against it. Soon after his death, which occurred the same year, the Lodges which had been closed were reopened. It was not long, however, before they were denounced to Pope Clement XII, who issued his Bull of 28th April, 1738, and sent an inquisitor to Florence, who caused various members of the Society to be cast into dungeons. They were set at liberty as soon as Francis of Lorraine became Grand Duke of Tuscany. He not only protected the Masons, but founded lodges in Florence and other places on his estates.
G. Findel was a great advocate that Freemasonry was not derived from the mysteries of the ancients; he says: "Seeing that the ancient symbolical marks and ceremonies in the Lodges bear very striking resemblance to those of the mysteries of the ancients, some have allowed themselves to be deceived, and led others astray, imagining they can trace back the history of the Craft into the cloudy mist of antiquity; instead of endeavouring to ascertain how and when these ceremonies were introduced into our present system, they have taken it for granted that they were derived from the religious mysteries of the ancients."
Now I propose to trace these mysteries, for the information of the Brotherhood throughout the world.Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzg3LJFe
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 5:40:24 GMT
"The cloudy mists of antiquity" may no longer remain ; within the past few years we have discovered how to decipher and read the ancient writings on the walls of old ruined temples and cities in Africa, Asia, and North, Central, and South America, as well as the ancient writings on papyri, and these give the key to unlock the mysteries of the past and reveal the origin of our Signs, Symbols, and Rituals ; and these I trace back to Ancient Egypt, and in no other part of the world can the origins be found.
If we take the theory propounded by Krause, what do we find? He has endeavoured to prove that Freemasonry "originated" in the association of operative Masons, who, in the Middle Ages, travelled through Europe, and by whom the Cathedrals and Monasteries were built. But the secrets these operative Masons had were received from the Chaldean Magicians. These Chaldean or Turanian Priests were the working or operative Masons of the old Egyptian Stellar Mythos Cult, from the seventeenth Nome of Upper Egypt, and were styled Companions (see Ritual of Ancient Egypt, or the so-called Book of the Dead). They were initiated in the first and second degree only of the old Egyptian Cult, because they, and they alone, were employed to look after the building of the Temples and keep the secrets of the same.
These Turanians, who were called "Companions" in Egyptian, only knew the secrets of two of the degrees out of the Seven Primary Mysteries, which were Astro-Mythological. We ordinary Masons, M.M. and up to P.Z., only have these Seven Mysteries. The Greater Mysteries belonging to the Egyptian Eschatology were ten in number.
If we trace these old Turanians (operatives) back to Egypt, we find them well established at the commencement of the Stellar Cult — but it is possible to trace them farther back than this, even to Early Totemic Sociology.
In Africa, at the present day, there exist some of the Nilotic Negroes, descendants of those who first formed the "Nomes" in Egypt; those who formed the seventeenth Nome are now "the Elgunono."
Oh, look, there... I see Nomes (Gnomes and Nommos... lol...), and even some 'Companions.' And they tried to tell you that Mary was the 'companion' of Jesus... but who'd have 'known?' And here, from the 'introduction,' just 'fyi'...
Clement of Alexandria fixes the date of the Exodus, among other enumerations, by this statement: "That it occurred 345 years before the 'Sothic Cycle.' " Now the Sothic Cycle was in existence before the time of Mena, over 4000 B.C., as borne out by "Manetho and the Monuments," and was a cycle of 1,460 years with four years as intercalary.
The Hyksos period of "Shepherd Kings," or their reign at Memphis and Lower Egypt, was 2554 B.C., and when they left Egypt they built Jerusalem. They left in the reign of Tuthmoses— and Moses lived after this, and was driven out of Egypt with his followers. Traditions versus History. It would be unnecessary to add more, I think, to prove my contention correct.Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzgTavjS
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 5:43:53 GMT
...So that for the oldest records of our Brotherhood we have to go back as far as Totemic Sociology over six hundred thousand years. This is proved by the fact that skeletons of Stellar Mythos people were found in Lombardy in the Pliocene strata — and the above is a low estimate for that.
Now we find from these old Temples that all our Signs and Symbols were in use then just as we use them now; there is no difference, except that in some cases we have slightly modernised them. Their Rituals, with slight modifications, were the same as ours.
Here we see Krause's theory not without some semblance of plausibility, as Rome, during several centuries, held sway over Gaul and Britain. Roman colonists settled in various parts of these countries, and with their language and customs they imported many of their institutions and associations. That of the Builders, or Collegia, held their Lodges wherever they established themselves, and no doubt initiated new members, and as these countries freed themselves from the yoke of Rome the associations would still remain. But they at best were only carriers of the "operative masons" — Egypt was their birthplace, and we can identify the Nome as the seventeenth Nome from the Ritual, these names, for instance, "Companions" — carried out of Egypt by the Turanians, who spread over Europe; Asia, except the North; lower part of North America, Central America, South America, as far down as Chili,in the Caroline Islands of the Pacific — but not in North Asia, Australia, Tasmania, or extreme North America.
Chevalier Ramsay stated that modern Masonry had its beginning in the Society of Architects founded in Scotland under the protection of King Robert Bruce, and the title of "Ancient and Accepted Masons of the Scottish Rite" may possibly have been formed in Scotland there and then; but, if that is so, we must trace the origin of this to the Order of Knights Templar, who fled to Scotland, and through them to the Ancient Mysteries practised in the East. From whence did these Templars obtain them? It is well known that one of the charges made against Jacques de Molay and his associates by their accusers was that "they used sacred rites in their initiations." Their four oaths are well known, but who knew their rites of initiation? The aim of the Society of Architects was to perpetuate the ancient Order of the Temple, and they continued to use their initiations of members, symbols, signs, and some parts of the initiatory rites, which had been obtained in the East, but they only knew three degrees out of the seven less^ and ten greater. The next question is: From whence did the Templars receive those symbols, and their esoteric meaning, in which we plainly trace the doctrines of the old Egyptians? No doubt from the Christians, who, like the Emperor Julian, the Bishop of Syrmesius, Clement of Alexandria, and many other philosophers, had been initiated into some of the mysteries by the Priests of Egypt before being converted to Christianity. In this way may be traced how part of the religious mysteries of Egypt, signs and symbols, etc., came to Scotland.This is getting interesting, don't you think...? I do... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzgzZNhF
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 6:15:16 GMT
Also note the use of the word 'operatives' in the above quote... 'operatives' makes another good word for 'agents,' don't you think? Like Agent 007... John Dee... maybe... he was, after all, the 'original'... And he also ties right in to all of this little story... quite nicely... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzpBBnqQ
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 6:17:52 GMT
...The original Signs and Symbols which our early Brothers had to use in place of words, which they had not, have now given place to expressions in linguistic and grammatical form, of which they were, at that time, still ignorant. I am bound to bring this before my Brothers because I wish to assure them that I have no intention or wish to shake their faith in the Volume of the Sacred Law, but, quite on the contrary, wish to establish their faith still firmer, more especially those who profess the Christian doctrines, by proving that these are the highest point of the religious conception of the human in his progressive evolution.
That the dead were buried in the faith founded on the Mystery of the Cross over thirty thousand years ago is proved by the Pyramid of Medum and other remains still extant; the so-called Tomb of Olham Fodhla, in Ireland, is an instance of this. The gnosis of the Crucifixion, however, was the same in the Stellar Cult three hundred thousand years before this, as is witnessed by the Pictograph taken from the Central American ruins. It is over two hundred thousand years old, and represents the Crucifixion during the period of the Stellar Cult. He is crucified on the two Poles — North and South. The Hieroglyphics state that He is the God of the North and South, He is the Great One of the seven Glorious Ones (attributes). A Crown of Thorns is depicted on his head. His side is pierced with a spear, from whence blood and water is falling on his Spiritual Name, which, in Egyptian, is Amsu. He is supported by his four brothers, Amsta, Hapi, Taumutf, and Kabhsenuf; representing Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of the Christians, represented by four squares. Tears are in his eyes, "Ye are the tears made by my eye in your name of men."Jesus wept... Indeed. And the underlined portion of the quote above is definitely reminiscent of the 'four holy helpers' of the gnostic Norea... and also helps to explain the notion of a 'four-square church,' I think... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzq4ksuf
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 6:19:59 GMT
...The signs and symbols herein portrayed read that He is the Great Lord and God of Heaven, situated at the North Pole; He is God of the Pole Stars and God of the North and South, and the Heavens and Paradise, and his age is given as thirty-three years in the Mexican Codices; it is written in the Hieroglyphics of Egypt as thirty-three years.
The Eschatology of the Old Egyptians was "Their doctrines of Final Things," and they taught this to the Brothers by Signs and Symbols and various Rites and Ceremonies, in a dramatic form, the more to impress it upon the initiates. Their Code of Morals was the highest that has ever been promulgated by any nation. The Laws of Moses were the old laws of Egypt, which has been proved by finding the Stelae of Hammurabi, handed on from the Sumarians to the Babylonians. This Stelae was engraved at least two thousand years before Moses lived, and however much it may cause a shock to some people, it is true, because this Stelae is still extant. Our Brotherhood teaches the same, and in the same way. The proof can be seen in the Ritual of ancient Egypt.
Let us now see what the formations of these early Lodges were, and the reasons for the same; the ceremony of their initiation; and, lastly, their Signs, Symbols, Secret Words, and the explanation and meaning of these. The Brothers throughout the world can then judge if my contention is not right.Thirty-three... and what happens when you reach the 'XXXIII'...? Very few arrive, I understand... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzqNKeGF
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 6:22:38 GMT
In the Old Stellar Cult, the primary formation was a circle. After, when the whole of the seven Lesser Mysteries were taught, the formation of the Temple was "a double square" end to end, and the reason of this was because it represented Heaven as a square, and the Earth as a square, and the orientation of Temples was South for fifty-two thousand years; then North for at least two hundred and fifty thousand years. In the centre of the Temple there were three cubes, one above the other, representing the Primary Trinity. In some Temples these were ornamented by a double axe. The Temples were sometimes called the House of the God of the Axe, in their language. The single axe, in Egyptian, is termed Neter, and may be translated as The Great One — Prince or Ruler is probably the correct translation. (The late Sir L. Page Renouf agreed with me in this translation.) Therefore we have these symbols representing The Great One of the North (i.e. Horus), The Great One of the South (i.e. Set), and The Great One of the Equinox (i.e. Shu), the Primary Trinity.
At the principal entrance of the Temples there were always Two Pillars. One was the Pillar of Set and the other was the Pillar of Horus, representing the two divisions of Heaven, North and South... On the top of the columns later were four lines, which represented the Heaven as a square and the Earth as a square; the Egyptians could not draw perspectively, but only on the flat, at this early period. At the present day these are represented by the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes.
Now this was the form of every Temple throughout the world, and at the porchway entrance these two Columns always stood; in whatever country these ruins are found the form is the same; it is also the correct form of a Masonic Lodge, and, as is well known, these two Columns stood at the porchway entrance of King Solomon's Temple and bore the names of J. and B.
These two Pillars, in Egypt, were placed at the porchway of all Temples in the Solar Cult to represent the entrance of their Amenta; one was called Tatt, the other Tattu. The word Tattu also denotes the two Tatt Pillars. The Tatt is a figure of stability; it supports the four corners, and is equal to the Square. Thus two Tatts at the entrance to Tattu is equivalent to a Double Square. Tattu is the entrance or gateway to the region where the mortal Soul is blended with the Immortal Spirit, and thereby established for ever.
According to the Egyptian wisdom all these Temples were simply representatives, so to speak, of their Heaven. Their Priests were human representatives of the Divine Master in his various attributes, and bore Divine titles — the same as the Principal O's in some of our degrees. Their teachings, forms, and ceremonies represented their beliefs as to the life that must be led on this earth to attain the everlasting life of happiness in the next; and the trials the Spirit would be subjected to until that end was accomplished.
Although the form of our Lodges and the Ancient Temples is the same, also the two Pillars or Columns at the entrance, we do not have in our M.M. Lodges the Cubes in the Centre; but the R.A. does, the reason being that we have divided the "seven Ancient Mysteries" in a different manner than did our ancient Brethren.Cheers, brothers... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzquuuJ5
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 6:58:18 GMT
The Triangle was sacred on account of its representing Heaven. The Primary Triangle originally represented Set, the God of the South (El Shaddai of the Phoenicians), and was, in fact, an Ideograph for his name. Horus, the God of the North, was alsorepresented by a triangle, which is also an Ideograph for his name. Later, when Horus became Primary God, the Egyptians associated all the attributes of Set to him, including the Triangle of Set.
Amongst the oldest Brotherhood the two double triangles were surrounded by four Uraei as guardians of the same; at a later phase it was three double triangles, surrounded with concentric circles. At the entrance of their Temples there were always "two watchers," each armed with a knife. The one outside the door was called the Watcher; the one inside the door was called the Herald.
The Egyptian initiatory ceremony was conducted with great secrecy and care. The candidates were divested of most of their clothing, and a chain, or rope of some kind, placed around their neck, to signify their belief in God, their dependence on Him, and their solemn obligations to submit and devote themselves to His will and service. The fact that they were neither naked nor clothed was an emblem that they were untutored men, children of nature, unregenerate, and destitute of any knowledge of the true God, as well as being destitute of the comforts of life. The chain or rope was a symbol that the candidate was being led from darkness to light, from ignorance to a knowledge of the One True and Living God, Creator, and Judge of all things in Heaven and Earth. The candidate was blindfolded, and then led by a brother (called in Egyptian An-er-f) to the door of the Temple or Lodge, which appeared as a blank wall. Arriving at this door he asked for admittance, and was asked by the "watcher" who he was. His answer, translated from the Egyptian, was "The Kneeler," i.e. Shu. He was then given a password which, in Egyptian, is Ra-gririt. The door was an equilateral triangle, a symbol typical of Heaven. The square on which he trod as he passed through was a symbol typical of Earth; the whole entrance symbolized passing from Earth to Heaven. The candidate was then conducted through long passages, and round the Lodge seven times; he had to answer various questions, words of "power and might" being given him.
Finally, he was conducted to the centre of the Lodge and asked what he desired mostly; his answer was that Light might be given him. The candidate had to commence his perambulations with his left foot first, the reason for which is given in the Papyrus of Nesi-Amsu, which gives the destruction of Apap, the greatest serpent of Evil. The left foot was first placed on him, and is symbolical of commencing our journey through life by putting all evil thoughts and actions under and away from us; we should tread down the great evils which beset us through life. The destruction of Apap is given in these words whichcan be found in the Papyrus of Nesi-Amsu :" His body shall be cut in pieces and burnt to ashes, and these ashes scattered over the face of the earth and water by the four winds of Heaven."
If the candidate turned back, or violated his obligations, his Throat was cut and Head chopped off (Ritual, Ch. xc.), after his Heart had been torn out (Ritual, Ch. xxvii., xxviii., and xl.). These Mysteries were the beliefs of the old wise men of Egypt enacted in a dramatic form to teach the Initiates their beliefs, as to what the Soul, or Manes, had to undergo or pass through after he had departed this Earthly life, before he could enter Paradise.
Their W.M., or High Priest, was placed in his chair with the same Grip and Token as we use at the present day, except that it was the other Arm, as may be seen on one of the bas-reliefs of the Temple of Khnumu, at Elephantine. Here the W.I.E. is presented to the master in the chair, who then places him in his chair with the Grip and Token, and gives him the Word of the Chair, which in Egyptian is Maat-Heru, meaning "One whose voice must be obeyed."Wow... those are very interesting initiations. And they remind me of something... oh, yes... I remember... And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush his heel.Well, that... and a carving at Rosslyn Chapel... And, another story... about two snakes... dear friends, as it happens... I'll see if I can find it; I must know thousands by now... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry#ixzz2dzyC9UKS
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 7:01:48 GMT
Well, what do you know...? I had it book-marked... providential, indeed... Actually, it probably more likely means that I've told this one before... never mind... The Parable about the Two Snakes A Manichaean text in Sogdian.
Here begins the story about the snakes "Heavy-to-carry" and "Light-to-carry".
Furthermore it was heard that there were once two snakes, and the first snake was called "Heavy-to-carry". Their bodies were equally large, and their tails were very long.
Being of one mind, they loved each other so much that one could not bear to be separated from the other. And lo, they went along a path together. After they had traversed much land, one snake glided into a depression. And the other snake proceeded along the way.
On one side of the path there were a very steep mountain, and on the other side a very deep body of water. And on the path, a trapper had set up a snare and a pitfall. Inside it was full of burning coals, and all kinds of fiery apparitions rose from it into the air.
The trapper was hiding nearby. And when the snake came to that place, it was pleased and amazed at the fiery apparition in the air. But it was not possible for it to avoid the pitfall, for, ala , it had to go ahead along this path and there was no way back. And lo, it paused, and then darted ahead, thinking, "I want to jump over the pitfall with my whole body."
But, because the pitfall was very wide and the snake's body was long and very thin in the middle, and its tail was very long, it could not cross the pitfall. Its head came across, but the tail remained behind lying across the pit, and the snake could not pull it over to its neck. So it burned there and died.
And the trapper came quickly, stretched out his hand toward the pit, cut open the head neatly, took the stone, and went away very happy.
The second snake came along and found its companion dead, its head mutilated. It cried out from the depths of its soul, "Alas! You were very dear to me." And it wept and lamented bitterly, wailed pitifully and said, "O wonderful brother, how have you died without your brother and in shame?"
When it had stopped lamenting, it thought to itself, "My brother died because he had not thought of a remedy for the body. If I, too, do not find a remedy for the body, I will also have to die." And it considered the matter carefully.
And the snake said, "Because he was a male, he could not bear the separation from his dear tail; he could not endure corruption and suffering in his body. But there is really no other way out. If I endure separation from my dear tail and endure a little pain in my body for the sake of the soul, then I will be able to jump over the pitfall."
Then it returned to the depression and found the abandoned fire of the shepherd. And it burned off as much of its tail as could be harmful to its body. And, when it had become smaller, the tailless body jumped very lightly and crossed the pitfall safely.
Of these two snakes, one is the person who loves the body, for whom bearing [....] is troublesome, but who is unconcerned about the soul. And his [....] is long. The second snake is the person for whom the soul is dearer than the body. There is very little poison in him and his attachment to the world is very weak, and the fetters binding his soul are very thin. And the pitfall, the high mountain and the deep body of water are the three trenches. The trapper is Ahriman, and the stone the soul.
Ultimately the Old Man, without good works, is the one who cannot jump over the three ditches with the tail of the body. But the chosen New Man has purged the three poisons from the body and has borne in his body the agony caused by observing the Law, and he can endure separation from his dear wife and children and from riches, and on the Final Day his soul will arise from the body and will attain the peace of Paradise ...www.gnosis.org/library/parsnak.htmRead more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry?page=1#ixzz2e00j6HoZ
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 5, 2013 7:09:10 GMT
The emblem of Power and Might which is given to the W.M. — the Gavel — took its origin from the original sacred sign still used amongst the Pygmies in Inner Africa. It is their symbol for The Great One, The Chief. It is just three sticks crossed.
The Nilotic Negroes, who followed the Pygmy all over the world, converted the crossed sticks into a double cross by placing the two sticks in a different way. In a later phase it was used as a symbol to represent the Great One, the Great Prince, in the form of a double-headed Hammer or Axe, when stones took the place of these crossed sticks, and primitive man began to acquire the knowledge of hafting.Interestingly, of course, an 'old battle-axe' is also a slang term for a woman... you'd think that under the circumstances, it would have been a man, wouldn't you...? Well, it's actually a double-headed axe... one axe, or tool, with two heads... which are supposed to be better than one. Fuxi and Nuwa (the Chinese 'masons') would seem to testify to that... Read more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry?page=1#ixzz2e01UQOuD
|
|
|
Post by iamiam on Sept 16, 2013 6:35:27 GMT
Well, what do you know...? I had it book-marked... providential, indeed... Actually, it probably more likely means that I've told this one before... never mind... The Parable about the Two Snakes A Manichaean text in Sogdian.
Here begins the story about the snakes "Heavy-to-carry" and "Light-to-carry".
Furthermore it was heard that there were once two snakes, and the first snake was called "Heavy-to-carry". Their bodies were equally large, and their tails were very long.
Being of one mind, they loved each other so much that one could not bear to be separated from the other. And lo, they went along a path together. After they had traversed much land, one snake glided into a depression. And the other snake proceeded along the way.
On one side of the path there were a very steep mountain, and on the other side a very deep body of water. And on the path, a trapper had set up a snare and a pitfall. Inside it was full of burning coals, and all kinds of fiery apparitions rose from it into the air.
The trapper was hiding nearby. And when the snake came to that place, it was pleased and amazed at the fiery apparition in the air. But it was not possible for it to avoid the pitfall, for, ala , it had to go ahead along this path and there was no way back. And lo, it paused, and then darted ahead, thinking, "I want to jump over the pitfall with my whole body."
But, because the pitfall was very wide and the snake's body was long and very thin in the middle, and its tail was very long, it could not cross the pitfall. Its head came across, but the tail remained behind lying across the pit, and the snake could not pull it over to its neck. So it burned there and died.
And the trapper came quickly, stretched out his hand toward the pit, cut open the head neatly, took the stone, and went away very happy.
The second snake came along and found its companion dead, its head mutilated. It cried out from the depths of its soul, "Alas! You were very dear to me." And it wept and lamented bitterly, wailed pitifully and said, "O wonderful brother, how have you died without your brother and in shame?"
When it had stopped lamenting, it thought to itself, "My brother died because he had not thought of a remedy for the body. If I, too, do not find a remedy for the body, I will also have to die." And it considered the matter carefully.
And the snake said, "Because he was a male, he could not bear the separation from his dear tail; he could not endure corruption and suffering in his body. But there is really no other way out. If I endure separation from my dear tail and endure a little pain in my body for the sake of the soul, then I will be able to jump over the pitfall."
Then it returned to the depression and found the abandoned fire of the shepherd. And it burned off as much of its tail as could be harmful to its body. And, when it had become smaller, the tailless body jumped very lightly and crossed the pitfall safely.
Of these two snakes, one is the person who loves the body, for whom bearing [....] is troublesome, but who is unconcerned about the soul. And his [....] is long. The second snake is the person for whom the soul is dearer than the body. There is very little poison in him and his attachment to the world is very weak, and the fetters binding his soul are very thin. And the pitfall, the high mountain and the deep body of water are the three trenches. The trapper is Ahriman, and the stone the soul.
Ultimately the Old Man, without good works, is the one who cannot jump over the three ditches with the tail of the body. But the chosen New Man has purged the three poisons from the body and has borne in his body the agony caused by observing the Law, and he can endure separation from his dear wife and children and from riches, and on the Final Day his soul will arise from the body and will attain the peace of Paradise ...www.gnosis.org/library/parsnak.htmRead more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry?page=1#ixzz2e00j6HoZLovely parable my friend. Very poignant. I have been enjoying what you have been sharing, and now that I have a lot of free time, I will be passing through more often. See ya round!
|
|
|
Post by Goldenfleeced on Sept 16, 2013 17:54:38 GMT
Well, what do you know...? I had it book-marked... providential, indeed... Actually, it probably more likely means that I've told this one before... never mind... The Parable about the Two Snakes A Manichaean text in Sogdian.
Here begins the story about the snakes "Heavy-to-carry" and "Light-to-carry".
Furthermore it was heard that there were once two snakes, and the first snake was called "Heavy-to-carry". Their bodies were equally large, and their tails were very long.
Being of one mind, they loved each other so much that one could not bear to be separated from the other. And lo, they went along a path together. After they had traversed much land, one snake glided into a depression. And the other snake proceeded along the way.
On one side of the path there were a very steep mountain, and on the other side a very deep body of water. And on the path, a trapper had set up a snare and a pitfall. Inside it was full of burning coals, and all kinds of fiery apparitions rose from it into the air.
The trapper was hiding nearby. And when the snake came to that place, it was pleased and amazed at the fiery apparition in the air. But it was not possible for it to avoid the pitfall, for, ala , it had to go ahead along this path and there was no way back. And lo, it paused, and then darted ahead, thinking, "I want to jump over the pitfall with my whole body."
But, because the pitfall was very wide and the snake's body was long and very thin in the middle, and its tail was very long, it could not cross the pitfall. Its head came across, but the tail remained behind lying across the pit, and the snake could not pull it over to its neck. So it burned there and died.
And the trapper came quickly, stretched out his hand toward the pit, cut open the head neatly, took the stone, and went away very happy.
The second snake came along and found its companion dead, its head mutilated. It cried out from the depths of its soul, "Alas! You were very dear to me." And it wept and lamented bitterly, wailed pitifully and said, "O wonderful brother, how have you died without your brother and in shame?"
When it had stopped lamenting, it thought to itself, "My brother died because he had not thought of a remedy for the body. If I, too, do not find a remedy for the body, I will also have to die." And it considered the matter carefully.
And the snake said, "Because he was a male, he could not bear the separation from his dear tail; he could not endure corruption and suffering in his body. But there is really no other way out. If I endure separation from my dear tail and endure a little pain in my body for the sake of the soul, then I will be able to jump over the pitfall."
Then it returned to the depression and found the abandoned fire of the shepherd. And it burned off as much of its tail as could be harmful to its body. And, when it had become smaller, the tailless body jumped very lightly and crossed the pitfall safely.
Of these two snakes, one is the person who loves the body, for whom bearing [....] is troublesome, but who is unconcerned about the soul. And his [....] is long. The second snake is the person for whom the soul is dearer than the body. There is very little poison in him and his attachment to the world is very weak, and the fetters binding his soul are very thin. And the pitfall, the high mountain and the deep body of water are the three trenches. The trapper is Ahriman, and the stone the soul.
Ultimately the Old Man, without good works, is the one who cannot jump over the three ditches with the tail of the body. But the chosen New Man has purged the three poisons from the body and has borne in his body the agony caused by observing the Law, and he can endure separation from his dear wife and children and from riches, and on the Final Day his soul will arise from the body and will attain the peace of Paradise ...www.gnosis.org/library/parsnak.htmRead more: innerchamber.proboards.com/thread/638/arcana-freemasonry?page=1#ixzz2e00j6HoZLovely parable my friend. Very poignant. I have been enjoying what you have been sharing, and now that I have a lot of free time, I will be passing through more often. See ya round! Yes, round... like a pork doughnut? Baahahaha... Sorry. Forgive me...? It is rather poignant, for me, as well. Bittersweet, maybe... Best regards to you, and your second wife, of course... as always.
|
|