Thursday 4 October 2012

Is Freemasonary a Science, Religion or Philosophy?


            In the Mahabharata, Yudhishtira when asked by the Yaksha to identify the greatest wonder in the world states, “Everyday people die and the rest live as if they are immortal. That is the greatest wonder.”

What is it that enables us mortals to ignore the imminent certainty and yet continue without fear? What is it that has conquered fear, even the fear of death? 


The fear of the unknown (death) can be explained thus: the mind tells us that in order to move forward, we must know what is waiting for us there, because “if I know, then I can control the situation, and if I don’t know, then I am not in control”. This second part is what scares us the most, because control is what establishes a measurement that we can use to manipulate the result of our actions. And when we don’t like what is different, this is simply because we can neither understand it, nor have a plan to control it beforehand.


This fear has been with us for thousands of years, and it is a great part of what has helped us survive as a species. Many of us, when we were kids, were afraid of the dark, mainly because we didn’t know what might be hiding in there, and similarly when we didn’t know what might be at the end of the hallway we felt the need to pull ourselves away from it. However, this fear of the death often stops our progress and makes it harder for us to discover and understand new things, encouraging rejection and closed mindedness

It was the forbidden fruit of human imagination that set us free, the powers of imagination, that only the human’s posses sprang forth hope and reason. And with the tools of Hope and Reason, man made himself an unending labyrinth of belief systems that defined and limited all his fears. He made stories of heroes fighting death, he made stories of man conquering nature, he made stories of man domesticating the universe itself…and it was those stories he wants to make real. Billions of dollars are spent every day in reaching out to the furthest limits in space and the deepest depths within earth. It is these notions that make man think that he can control everything, even death someday.

With all this knowledge, are we really free now? Blissful in the arrogant abundance of knowledge, man has abstracted and encapsulated himself from the fact that everything he build is purely man made and does not acknowledge the existence but also attempts to supersede the Supreme Being, who on a mere whim can nullify not just reason but the entire human existence.

Just like Lord Shiva`s rattle-drum that constantly reminds of the cyclic rhythm of all creation, of beginnings and endings, we mortals also need a constant reminder to break our illusions of grandeur and prompt a honest dialogue with ourselves while keeping the Supreme Being in and above everything we do.

That is where Freemasonry fits, in the big scheme of the nature of the universe.

 The Scientific process, which is Freemasonry   

The generally accepted definition for science is: “It is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.” So if a thought has to be said to be scientific then it has to be systematic in nature, to be able to contribute to a vast database of knowledge on the basis of its test-ability and repeat-ability.

Freemasonry is a perfect example of the scientific method as a freemason is in a systematic yet continuous process of self improvement… the process that will make Good Men Better. He is provided with various working tools and measures with which he can build his empirical knowledge about himself and everything around him. He is also provided with the unrelenting standards of moral excellence in the VSL against which he can test on how well is has been successful in his progress from good to better.
During the ceremony of conforming the second degree, the candidate is also coaxed to explore the seven liberal arts and science.  i.e. Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music & Astronomy. It is using these scientific frameworks of various domains that a Mason of good standing hopes to reach the highest realms designed by the GATU.

The Masonic Rituals that are Religiously followed

Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is neither a religion nor a substitute for one. "There is no separate Masonic God, or a separate proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry.”
Wikipedia explains Religion as: “Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature”



Simply put, it is a construct made of stories, symbols and rituals that cultivates and gives a framework for thought and mind and hence a social/individual identity. As the Stories of the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ are Symbolically represented by the Holy Cross on which he was executed. Christians every Sunday participate Ritualistically in the Holy Communion which is the essence of the Christian religion, hence providing the Christians a framework of beliefs to build their value systems upon.


Any Mason who has ever stepped into a functioning Lodge will be able to immediately identify with the Freemasonic practices that have been transmitted through generations on generation in the form of stories, symbols and rituals and also know that the general definition of Freemasonry is “it is a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols”. Masons strictly follow the Rituals that include the Symbols which derive its meaning from the Stories that define them. We have stories of the “Widows Son”, we have symbols that equate one man to another and have Rituals that encompasses these stories and symbols into a framework for a Freemason to build himself upon which leads him to have a distinctive and unique social and individual identity.

So why do we in all our public interactions categorically state that Freemasonry is not a Religion? The answer lies in the statement itself -  “"There is no separate Masonic God, or a separate proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry”  We are not a religion in the sense we do not have a separate God-Head but reflect the doctrine of the Unity of God and all our practices point towards the same thought.


In Search Of Truth and Wisdom – A Masonic Philosophy?


“The Allegory of the Cave” was a story that Socrates uses to emphasis the need for a philosophic quest for wisdom. Socrates describes a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Socrates, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners.


 In addition, the Allegory of the Cave is an attempt to explain the philosopher's place in society: to attempt to enlighten the "prisoners".

“Having been kept for a considerable time in a state of darkness, what, in your present situation, is the predominant wish your heart?” “Light” replies the initiate…. And thus marks the beginning of an unrelenting journey of an EA into the enriched and enlightened pinnacles of Freemasonry.  He is lighted to enlighten… and in the prayer the following is humbly requested of the almighty: “Endue him with a competency of Thy divine wisdom, that, assisted by the secrets of our Masonic art, he may the better be enabled to unfold the beauties of true godliness” reinstating the fact that a Masons intellectual journey is similar to that of a Philosopher.. seeking the Truth and Wisdom which will enable him to see the real beauty of Gods handy work.

The reason why Masons universally unanimously agree that “Once a Mason, Mason for life”, is because of the fact that once the mind has been made to look away from the darkness and has seen the path towards the light of everlasting wisdom, it is very difficult to go back to the state of ignominy. And in every ritual in Freemasonry there are multiple references importuning the Masons to expand their knowledge and spiritual horizons.  
                                          
All this and yet not Just That

  A belief is what creates ones identity and a belief stems from the stories we have heard and have believed in or have chosen to believe. The belief could be an artistic representation of death or religious stories of afterlife, it could also be scientific research data that is working towards longer human life.. it could possibly also be the philosophic logic or moral thoughts of how to live a good life.

  Freemasonry is all that and yet cannot be individually categorized to be any one. As Freemasonry edifies that each man is a school of thought in himself. A Mason is not adjudicated by the laws of man, but lives as an equal in front of the All Seeing Eye, with the principles and conviction that are entrusted upon him that were bought down from the times of the Wise King Solomon.




To conclude I would like to state, like the beauty of  the rainbow gets constrained by semantics and limited to human hindsight as mere mortals dissect and debate about it, similarly Freemasonry when left un-dissected is surreal yet universal and infinite.


"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." -Albert Einstein

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Kali`s Righteous Dance of Death



Pallivalu Bhadravattakam - Rasana Nair


    Being a second generation expat from Kerala,  born and raised across the sub-continent of India, my brush with the land of my forefathers was limited to visits for family get-togethers like marriages and funerals.. And beyond the over-protective and watchful eyes of my loving uncles\aunts I knew a colorful and vibrant plethora of possibilities existed to which I did not have access then (as I was a child and a “fragile” city dweller) .  Come of age, my curiosity and restlessness to discover my roots was pressing but the rituals of life took priority… till recently, as luck would have it, my father-in-law, while dusting his collection of old records opened the rabbit hole into wonderland for me again....


    This song is sung at the Bagvathy (local representation of Kali \ Durga) temples after the annual summer harvest festival across central and western Kerela, The song sings of the victorious battle of Bagvathy against the demon Darika. The story is also depicted in a dance form called Mudiyettu, a ritual dance drama based on the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. The Theme depicts the glorious victory and triumph of Bagvathy over the asura (demon) Darika. The characters in this dance are heavily dressed up with gorgeous costumes, intricate and elaborate with the conventional facial painting and head gear (kolam), attired and adorned with the unique weirdness and hideousness the story of the deadly dance comes to life and seems quite surreal !! 


The story goes :  After rigorous meditation to Lord Brahma, Brahma granted immunity from death at the hands of any man to the fiercest Asura (demons) Darika, knowing that he was a asura he gives the boon with a small clause “that he would die only at the hands of a woman”. The demon grew powerful and became a threat for the gods and godly men. After several attempts by the gods to defeat him, Lord Siva evoked Bhadrakali (Bagvathy\Kali\Durga) following the importunes by Sage Narada. All the gods donated their special weapons.

 Darika who was an expert in elusive night time battle, was conned into believing that the darkness engulfing was the nightfall, while actually Bhadrakali had shadowed the sun with her hair, giving the impression that the sun had set, and that smoked out Darika. 'Pallivalu Bhadravattakam' refers to the temple sword and anklet used in the battle as weapons by Bhadrakali! And in a fierce and long drawn battle Good triumphs over Evil as in all mythological stories….


Thursday 12 April 2012

Gortoz a ran / Gwerz Kiev - Denez Prigent



Denez Pringet - Gortoz a ran 
Album - Irvi / also OST "Black Hawk Down"




Denez Prigent - Gwerz Kiev
Album - Sarac'h



The first 10 mins of the movie "Black Hawk Down" sets the mood of the events to unfold on screen... and on the backdrop of the gut wrenching visuals is the haunting voice of Denez Prigent singing "Gortoz a ran" .
Denez Prigent a native of a region in France called Breton ,(AKA Little Britain, as opposed to Great Britain), sings in the ancient celetic brittonic  language of Brittiany ,the folk music of the Breton region is known as "gwerz". 



  
In the tradition of gwerz, Denez Prigent writes and sings about dramatic events about which he hears during a travel, a conversation, or through medias. "Gwerz Kiev" relates the "Holodomor", the famine that struck Kiev in the 1930s, with casualties estimated to four million. The picture on the side is of one of the many monuments constructed all across Ukraine in memory of the tragedy. . 

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Tande-La - The Creole Choir of Cuba






Tande-La - The Creole Choir of Cuba
Album:  Tande-La (2009) / RealWorld Records






The Creole Choir celebrate the history of their Haitian descendents enslaved to the Caribbean from West Africa. The Creole Choir were founded in 1994 during the 'Special Period' when the Cuban economy fell into a black hole following the end of the USSR and of Soviet support for the revolution. Food was short while homes and work places often went dark due to lack of electricity. It was at this difficult time that members of the Professional Choir of Camagüey who were descendents of Haitians, decided to re-forge the resistance songs and laments of their forebears. Lead by their Choir Director Emilia Díaz Chávez, Grupo Vocal Desandann, as they are called in Cuba, revived the songs of their ancestors for modern times. Desandann literally means 'descendents' and as the choir say: "For us music is like food, it feeds the spirit and is a major inspiration for everyday life".


The Creole Choir describe each of their songs as being 'like a small film' filled with vitality, humour and compassion. They tell stories of survival despite abject poverty, of heroes who defied colonial masters, of ghosts at the crossroads, of enduring love, of homesickness for family, of abandonment but never loss of hope, mother's laments and prayers, of the desire for freedom. With irresistible melodies driven by richly textured harmonies, shifting Caribbean rhythms with a very original root bass sound, this is impassioned singing by a unique group.


** taken from the CD sleeve.

Ahemedo - Aynur Dogan





Ahmedo - Auynur Dogan.
Album: Kece Kurdan (2004)

A tribal Kurdish song, (re)sung by Aynur Dogan. 

Not much information is available about the song as such other than that it is a regretful toned song about the sins of the forefathers specifically talking about the oppression of the Kurds by the Turks!!

 Aynur Dogan, a corset wearing, nomadic looking, husky voiced  curly haired Kurdish beauty was elevated into the global stage when she got featured in a Music Documentary on the music of Istanbul called "Crossing The Bridge: The Sounds Of Istanbul". That`s where i came across this piercing voice that set me on a hunt.... which led me to her and the history of the Kurds !  
Her Album "Kece Kurdan" was banned in Turkey as it was supposedly to contain lyrics that "incites women to take to the hills and promote division". The ban was latter removed in 2005.  







Ahmedo - Tribal Kurdish Song  (the original version) as sung in the hills of Turkey !!



Saturday 7 April 2012

Wasted Years - String Quartet Tribute to Iron Maiden



Wasted Years - String Quartet Tribute to Iron Maiden.








One of my favorite  renditions of Maiden`s Wasted Years... was my phone`s ring tone for quite a long time.

Friday 6 April 2012

Shiv Tandav Stotram - Ravana


Shiv Tandav Stotram - Ravana
(This piece sung by Uma Mohan)


Being granted the boon of indestructibility (except by a human being), Ravan rampages the earth till he tires and has nothing new to do... that`s when he reaches out again to Lord Shiva asking him the quintessential existential question... "When will I be Happy..?" ( Moksha). Shiva having already granted the boon could not take it back hence directs Ravans to Vishnu.. who incarnates as Rama.. and the rest is history !!


This is one of the very few powerful rendition of this song... many have attempted but this is the closest i think would have come to how Ravana would have sung it !!