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Article MASONIC PHILOSOPHY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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Masonic Philosophy.
is given at pnce by a single S . outra without any allusion to the circumstances , more or less indirect , to which the case relates . The logic is also reduced to three terms , the nyaya or regular syllogism , as before stated . -I
The books themselves bear evidence of the most remote antiquity , and an interpretation is necessary to render them intelligible . Numerous , are the commentators who have endeavoured to penetrate into their hidden sense and mystery , and their writings alone form a vast literature . The most distinguished amongst the ancients is
Baudliayana ; amongst the moderns , Sancaraacharya , the author of a great number of works and the founder of a very considerable sect amongst the Hindoos , whose commentary upon the Soutras has been enriched by the notes and interpretations of Vacliasputi Analamda and Bamamya , also the chief of a sect , which has occasioned a schism amongst the Vedanta philosophers .
The following is an analysis of the four books of the Brahma Soutras . The first treats of God and of the soul , of matter and of the universe . " The existing cause of this universe , " it says , " endowed with all power and with all knowledge , is essentially happy . It is a being brilliant and glorious , appearing in the orb of the sun and in the human countenance . It is a celestial element from which
all things proceed , and in which they are finally absorbed . It is the atmosphere in which all beings roll , and out of which they arise . It is the light which radiates the skies , which penetrates through the highest and lowest places , which traverses the earth , and which shines in man . It is the soul which in itself possesses intelligence —the soul immutable , immortal , and endowed with indestructible
happiness . " The second book is devoted to controversy : it contains a refutation of certain doctrines opposed to the Vedas , more particularly those of the Sankia , of Kapila , and also an attempt to reconcile those passages of the Vedas which present apparent contradictions . The third book treats principally of the means by which we can
arrive at the knowledge requisite for effecting the deliverance of the soul and for insuring its eternal happiness . The fourth , treats of the effects produced by this acquired knowledge when properly employed . It shows how pious meditation leads to this divine knowledge , and how this divine knowledge leads to everlasting beatitude .
^ Having given this historic sketch of the Vedas and Soutras , which give birth to the various Hindoo systems now in existence , and which form the keystone of their Masonic philosophy , we shall proceed to give a concise summary of the leading doctrines , which , notwithstanding their verging in some of their symbolic rites towards a spiritual pantheism , are nevertheless imbued with one great principle—a Supreme Godhead , the Great Architect of the
Universewhose only propitiation by man is a self-sacrifice of his passions and a mutual love of his fellow-creatures , more simply and forcibly expressed in our own Gospel : " lie who saith that lie loveth God
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Philosophy.
is given at pnce by a single S . outra without any allusion to the circumstances , more or less indirect , to which the case relates . The logic is also reduced to three terms , the nyaya or regular syllogism , as before stated . -I
The books themselves bear evidence of the most remote antiquity , and an interpretation is necessary to render them intelligible . Numerous , are the commentators who have endeavoured to penetrate into their hidden sense and mystery , and their writings alone form a vast literature . The most distinguished amongst the ancients is
Baudliayana ; amongst the moderns , Sancaraacharya , the author of a great number of works and the founder of a very considerable sect amongst the Hindoos , whose commentary upon the Soutras has been enriched by the notes and interpretations of Vacliasputi Analamda and Bamamya , also the chief of a sect , which has occasioned a schism amongst the Vedanta philosophers .
The following is an analysis of the four books of the Brahma Soutras . The first treats of God and of the soul , of matter and of the universe . " The existing cause of this universe , " it says , " endowed with all power and with all knowledge , is essentially happy . It is a being brilliant and glorious , appearing in the orb of the sun and in the human countenance . It is a celestial element from which
all things proceed , and in which they are finally absorbed . It is the atmosphere in which all beings roll , and out of which they arise . It is the light which radiates the skies , which penetrates through the highest and lowest places , which traverses the earth , and which shines in man . It is the soul which in itself possesses intelligence —the soul immutable , immortal , and endowed with indestructible
happiness . " The second book is devoted to controversy : it contains a refutation of certain doctrines opposed to the Vedas , more particularly those of the Sankia , of Kapila , and also an attempt to reconcile those passages of the Vedas which present apparent contradictions . The third book treats principally of the means by which we can
arrive at the knowledge requisite for effecting the deliverance of the soul and for insuring its eternal happiness . The fourth , treats of the effects produced by this acquired knowledge when properly employed . It shows how pious meditation leads to this divine knowledge , and how this divine knowledge leads to everlasting beatitude .
^ Having given this historic sketch of the Vedas and Soutras , which give birth to the various Hindoo systems now in existence , and which form the keystone of their Masonic philosophy , we shall proceed to give a concise summary of the leading doctrines , which , notwithstanding their verging in some of their symbolic rites towards a spiritual pantheism , are nevertheless imbued with one great principle—a Supreme Godhead , the Great Architect of the
Universewhose only propitiation by man is a self-sacrifice of his passions and a mutual love of his fellow-creatures , more simply and forcibly expressed in our own Gospel : " lie who saith that lie loveth God