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Post by Tamrin on Jun 30, 2008 19:50:11 GMT 10
As a rule the myth is no explanation of the origin of the ritual to any one who does not believe it to be a narrative of real occurrences, and the boldest mythologist will not believe that. William Robertson Smith Perhaps some of the readers of this Masonic forum may like to explore the field of comparative mythology, of which the late Professor Joseph Campbell is now the best know exponent. I lead off with the following consideration: Myth and Ritual Debate:Given our immersion in both ritual and myth, I would be interested in exploring various Masonic perspectives.
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 2, 2008 9:14:51 GMT 10
Not everything may be properly subjected to verbal explanation and comparison: Joseph Campbell wrote ( Myths to Live By, p.130): There is a favorite story, frequently told by Zen masters, of the Buddha, preaching: of how he held up a single lotus, that simple gesture being his whole sermon. Only one member of his audience, however, caught the message, a monk named Kasyapa, who is regarded now as the founder of the Zen sect. And the Buddha noticing, gave him a knowing nod, then preached a verbal sermon for the rest: a sermon for those who required meaning, still entrapped in the net of ideas; yet pointing beyond, to escape from the net and the way that some of them, one day or another, might find.
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 3, 2008 8:02:21 GMT 10
The search for meaning will ever lead us elsewhere, led by signs that point from one thing to another, for such is the nature of signs and such is the meaning of meaning. What is the nature of reality? Reality is what is! What is the meaning of life? Life!
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 3, 2008 10:12:30 GMT 10
The most fundamental mysteries simply are as they are! There is nothing beyond subject to penetration: One has arrived! To go beyond in such cases leads one away from that which IS. Once Isis has unveiled Herself, it is folly to seek to strip away her flesh by continuing one's search.
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