Stars in the Masonic Temple
                a point of view from the second degree
                         by Theja Gunawardhana
                           20th August 1964
                            Tri Ratna Lodge
                            Colombo, Ceylon
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Introduction by Jacques Huyghebaert, Compuserve #100142,1234
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This lecture has been chosen because it is regarded as a typical
example of the work that is produced in Masonic Lodges in Sri Lanka
under the Theosophical Society.

Like in many other parts of the world, Freemasons at their Lodge
meetings, alternate ritual and degree work with the delivery of
lectures, which are prepared by the members of the Lodge for their
mutual benefit and pleasure.  The talks which are given in lodge,
unlike the "Papers" delivered in Lodges of Research, have no scholarly
pretensions whatsoever, but only reflect the result of personal
effort.  They only the views and the ideas of their authors and are
usually followed by questions and answers sessions, during which
topics are sometimes hotly, though always fraternally, debated.

The non-Masonic reader, who naturally may not be fully conversant with
the nature of Freemasonry, is therefore enjoined to remember that the
content of a Masonic lecture never mirrors the "official" view of any
Grand Lodge, nor does it imply in any way whatsoever that Freemasonry
sponsors any particular  theories regarding re-incarnation.

The lecture however does reveal one very important fact about
Freemasonry : the rich variety and depth of interpretations which its
symbols can inspire to its members,

It also illustrates how well Eastern Thought and Freemasonry can be
associated.

Some parts of the text may seem unclear.  This is because, on one
hand, the author is not a native English speaker and has made
unconsciously literal translations from his mother tongue.  It is
caused, on the other hand, by the fact that the lecture contains a
number of ideas and a specific vocabulary which are borrowed from
Buddhism; let us not forget it this perspective that the lecture was
intended for local and internal use, in a cultural environment where
these concepts are familiar to all and form the mainstream current of
thinking.  Facing a difficult choice between a longing to correct and
improve the text to make it more understandable, and the reluctance to
tamper with a text that is not mine, I have preferred to present the
"original" version of the lecture. In rare cases, explanatory
additions couldn't be avoided, they appear between square brackets.
Underlined text is as in the original.

"Tri Ratna Lodge" means in the Singhalese language " Lodge of the
Triple Gem" The name is a subtle allusion both the teachings of Lord
Buddha and to Sri Lanka, the tropical island located south of the
Indian subcontinent, which had already acquired a high reputation
during the reign of King Solomon for the gems which are mined there.

Lanka as Ceylon is named in the "Ramayana", the mythical Indian epos,
is also the legendary place where Sita, the virtuous and faithful wife
of Rama , was abducted and held captive, till she was at last freed
miraculously by Hanuman, Rama's devoted friend ...


Jacques Huyghebaert,

Compuserve #100142,1234
Leinster Lodge #115, Colombo, GL of Ireland
Lodge Bonnie Doon #611, Colombo, GL of Scotland

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                      STARS IN THE MASONIC TEMPLE
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In his Temple there are 3 stars - the 5 pointed, the 6 pointed and 7
pointed.

The 5 pointed star above the seat of the R.W.M. in the East is called
the Star of Initiation.

The Word initiation is derived from 'initium' which means, beginning.
This star heralds a five fold beginning - physically, emotionally,
mentally, intuitionally and spiritually - on an initiate's level of
consciousness.  The 5 pointed star, blazing resplendently faces the
initiate at a hallowed moment of life.  I shines upon, and overshadows
the physical, material body, which journeying in darkness, has had its
higher etheric and astral counterparts and the mental world awakened.
There has been a shift in consciousness to a higher plane.  This
heightened consciousness of a quickening of another self, however
faintly, gives a responsary vibration from one's thought world to the
spiritual power of the star.  The intuitive feeling is that the star
has been known before and all this time, there has been a long
separation.  A sense of spiritual upliftment follows.  Hence
physically, emotionally, mentally, intuitionally and spiritually, the
initiative is quickened by the down pouring force and radiant power of
the star.  It proves we can learn to respond through form or matter to
the power of spirit and the self within.  We must need love the
highest when we see it.

The initiate's whole being is flooded both outwardly and inwardly with
the light of this Blazing Star, which awakens the intuition from its
sleep, and sparks off the spiritual essence into a flame, which will
remain for evermore, as an in-dwelling, illuminating presence.  In
form, or physically, the Star represents the outline of a perfect man,
head held high, feet and arms outstretched, the reflection of the
Mahatma or Great Soul, which in turn is the reflection of the Adi
Buddha, the Paramata, the Primordial Unity, the One Supreme or the
Highest Absolute Principle.

A body can shine with such effulgence only when it has crucified
itself to the call of matter, so that the Divine Spirit can shine in
full glory, through a perfect body temple.  The five pointed star
embodies the descent of spirit to matter or life, the cross, the
death, the descent to hell and the resurrection, the victorious
triumph over death and ascent to Eternal light of the Christ
principle.  The Star is a dramatic externalised symbol of the ever
developing harmony between body and soul, matter and spirit - man and
God.  The Morning Star is the inevitable fitting finale to the drama
of initiation - the emergence from the unreal to the real, from
darkness of the unknown night to light of the dawn and from a mystic
death of the body to the spiritual rebirth or awakening of the Ego to
life and light.

This is the beginning of the end of the exile of our soul.  "Unless
one is born of the spirit one cannot enter the Divine Kingdom."

The five fold beginning of a new life is depicted in the 5 points of
the star, as well as in the pentacle outline formed when the star
points are linked.  There is a square also which outlines and enfolds
the pentacle, signifying that the physical, squared body of the
initiate is liberating itself from its 4 walled confinement of the
thraldom of matter into a new dimensional expansion making him a 5
fold being.  The circle between the square and pentacle is the light
of the Divinity evoking the divinity in the initiate.

He is making an accent by a subtle gradation into a higher plane by
virtue of a new shift of consciousness.  The triangle within the star,
denotes the 3 fold aspect of God and man.  Before the triangle was
formed it was a cone expressing the highest self, or primordial point
of the top apex, evolving into the duality of spirit and matter and
proceeding to form five cones in all within the star.  We are told an
atom is a cone shaped body, a funnel conveying etheric energy.  In
this star the cone represents the funnel of outflowing divine energy,
a microcosmic entity of the solar system itself, which is funnel
shaped and part of a higher solar system and higher group of funnels -
also manifestations of BEING in turn.

Therefore the 5 pointed star is of the essence of BEING, and the
perfect symmetry of the whole figure, expresses the perfect law and
perfect geometric precision, by which life or spirit manifests itself
in form.  Now the 5 pointed star makes us inwardly aware that we are
not only our outward personality but inwardly we are a shadow of the
higher self or Ego - a part of God.

The initiate thus born again into his divine heritage of spiritual
consciousness, can never forget he is in this unit, which while
affecting a great and whole scheme, can also move to extensions of
Being reciprocally.  If we do not perceive this power, this immanent
power of the inherent Divinity within us, it is useless looking for it
elsewhere.  Each man for himself is his own lawgiver, lawbreaker and
thereby the creator of his actions, of his Karma.  In man is possible
not only the fiercest battles between Truth and non-Truth, between
light and darkness; but also the greatest heights of illumination and
depths of achievement.  In fact, humanity and we as its units are the
front line of the battle at this period of evolution of the solar
system.

We have not been led to this star by accident.  Within us we carry a
whole cycle of evolution, a vast reservoir of power and Karmic force,
garnered through centuries of incarnate lives.  The initiate has to
release the power by finding the centre of his higher consciousness,
influencing his outer personality by stamping out the self centredness
of I, Me and Mine and by beginning to live by will and not by emotion.
The enkindled flame bridges our separated consciousness of the divine
fire of the Star.  The new birth in the star will help to release
these forces.

We have to understand that our physical body with its impulses of the
past, our astral body with its strong desires and emotions and our
body with its curiosity and waywardness have to be conquered, governed
and made obedient to the soul within, and subordinated to the
discipline of the Light within.  The five pointed Star as our Heavenly
Man Guide has to be given the right place within us and He can and
will illumine our Path we have purposefully sought for its own sake.
The 5 point Star will help us to find our true self when we try to be
true to our own self, since each one of us is to oneself the Way, the
Truth and the Life, a personality to be transmuted by our spiritual
will.

A star heralded by the birth of the Christ principle in the birth of
Jesus.  It is also heralded the birth of Horus, the Osiris principle.
So this star heralds our spiritual rebirth.

We now understand that darkness is necessary to go to the Light.  In
ancient times [in Sri Lanka] when someone died, it was said : "He has
gone to the Light".  The Entered Apprentice kneeling at the altar,
face to face with the Blazing Star, knows fully well the truth of
this.  In the "Voice of the Silence" Blavatsky says : " Before the
soul can see, the harmony within must be attained and fleshly eyes be
rendered blind to all illusion.  He who is bathes in the light will
never be deceived by the veil of Maya .

The unseeing initiate blindfolded by Maya [= illusion in pali and
sanskrit] began a great quest, a great evolutionary and involutionary
pilgrimage and gazing on the star, he now knows he is more than body.
Out of the infinite consciousness of the Atmic Fire, this Star, a
spark of that Fire, has kindled the flame of Pragna, which also is of
the essence of Atmic Fire within us.  It has revealed its identity
with our Higher Self or Ego, which has so far lain dormant, separated
and unco-ordinated with the lower physical and mental selves.  Hence
this 5 point star is also called the Star of Boundless Vision [in
Buddhism].  The neophyte has now to seek the bridge (or Antakharana)
between the 2 separated worlds.

This bridge is found hidden in a point in the 5 point Star, which
really has a 6th point in the centre or heart of the star, where
dwells the counterpart of our Higher Self - the Master or Adept in the
self chosen temple home, contained by a star.  At this stage of our
evolution we must travel with the Master on the path. The choice of a
Master, be he the Buddha, the Christ, Mohammed, Zoroaster or Iswara [=
God in Singhalese] is generally influenced by past knowledge of this
Master or by the affinity of one of the Seven Rays to which we belong
specifically in our early stage of evolution.  (But all Masters being
of the same Divine Essence are also of the quintessence of all 7
rays.)  The 5 point star is a Ray of the 7 Rays but contains in embryo
the quintessence of all 7.

The Hidden Light has been seen by the initiate, manifested through the
Resplendent Star.  This is a vision.  The initiate has to make this
vision a continuing one transmuted to reality, by purification of his
lower nature which is the barrier between him and the Light.  Every
action has now to be done not with desire for its fruit but with the
object of sacrifice to the Supreme.

The process consists of repeated and continuous accentuation of all
that is spiritual in oneself, in terms of thought, feeling, springs of
conducts and of a corresponding elimination of all that is in
opposition to the spiritual ideal.  This entails continual mental and
emotional self-observation and self correction.  There is now a
watchtower light house within us in the form of a reflected Star.

The three lower selves of the neophyte -physical, astral and mental -
rise up in rebellion causing an intense conflict within.  Just as
Jesus and Horus were born amidst dangers and hostilities of the dark
forces, many trials assail the neophyte when he sets foot on the path.

To walk in the footsteps of the Master on the destined path, the
neophyte has to take two preliminary steps - purification and self
spiritualisation - in order to eliminate all aspects of the personal
life that are a barrier to the building of the human temple.

The 3 lower selves of the neophyte must be transmuted into their
opposite in daily practice.  At this stage the hidden questions of
Masonic Life cannot be answered in words, even by our Elder Brothers,
but with the reality of our own experience.  It is an apprentice
period of self unfoldment, in the hard way by one's own efforts, but,
illuminated by the guiding star of the Master's radiant triumph over
the same path we now take.  The key to success lies within the mind
which has to be occupied and held  by the Master's teaching and wisdom
on a three-fold path - Karma Marga, Jnana Marga and Bhakti Marga and
somewhere on this path, the Master will reveal himself to us.  For
every step we take towards the Master he takes two towards us.  When
we behold the Master we also meet our higher self.  The necessary
exercises that help us on this path are :

(1) interior study of eternal verities
(2) meditation
(3) contemplation or prayer and
(4) understanding the esoteric meanings and the exoteric teachings

Thus by the study of the external expression of the Truth we are led
to the discovery of the Truth within ourselves.

The teachings of the Very Sacred Lore as illuminated by the Master,
and as manifested by the vivified Star of Life of the Master lead us
to purposefully choose by our own willpower, our unification with the
Master's life in the heart of the Star.  Thus the 5 point Star is the
Master revealing both the humanity of God and the Divinity of man.  In
fact every human being or ego is said to be under the eye of a great
Adept, who does not solve life's problems for us, but helps us by
being what they are.  The call for the Star is for us to become what
the Master is, for he is in turn linked to the source of life.  By
linking our life with that of the Master, we link ourselves even in a
faint degree, with the Divinity, and through the Star we receive a 3
fold blessing.

(1) The death of the delusion of personality (Sakkayaditti) and the
consciousness of the overself and of a new life, manifested in the
resurrected Christ or Osiris principle.  This is our inherent Divinity
that will henceforward be vivified by the Star.

(2) A new outlook or perspective of spiritual dimension which demands
not a fundamental overhauling of our way of life, but a re-orientation
in motive, in the light of the expanded consciousness.

(3)  A new understanding illuminated by the Star Light, the Star of
our Being, by which we now measure the world.

On the Path, the study and practice of the 8 fold path of the Buddha,
the Beatitudes of Christ's Sermon on the Mount, the precepts in " At
the Feet of the Master" by Krishnamurti, the "Golden Stairs" by
Blavatsky and basic principles of all other great religions which are
one in essence, help.  The form may vary in the dharma of different
religions but the ethics and basis principles, all go to one fountain
head.  The form has varied to suit the historical and social period of
the world history.

In order to go forward on the Path, one has to retreat within, to
discover that the Divine Light is also within oneself.  At this moment
of discovery, the distinction between Self and Not Self is obliterated
and we are not two selves but one.

The 5 pointed Star demands not merely a negative sinless state, but
the positive evolution of being a pillar in the Temple of God from
whence we will go out no more, into exile.

In the Egyptian initiations these words from the Book of the Dead are
used.  "Blinded Soul arm Thyself with the torch of the Mysteries and
in the earthly night thou shalt discover thy Luminous Double, thy
celestial self.  Follow this Divine Guide for he holds the key to thy
existence, past and present. "

We are initiated by the 5 point Star to the greatest mystery of all -
Man's own Divinity.

We have found the hidden centre of the Ego when we succeed in putting
ourselves out of the centre of our lives and placing the Master in
that place.  Then the Christ says " At that day you shall know I am in
my Father you in me and I in you."

The Master vivifies the spiritual potentialities of the neophyte.  His
inspiration links our three lower bodies with the Higher Spiritual
Will, inspiring their ordered activity, precision and sanctifying
grace and growing into ever increasing wisdom and spiritual stature by
the teaching of Spirit to Intelligence, Love and Will.  The incessant
struggle goes on between the neophyte's senses now conscious of the
higher self and his spiritual will till he reaches the path of self
knowledge, learning the great lesson that darkness and light are
identical in themselves being only indivisible in the human mind. The
physical self is recognised both as friend and enemy.  Sufferings,
trials, temptations, assaults by the dark forces, disillusion, all
help us to go to the Light, if properly understood and faced, in the
Light of the Star. we now learn the laws of light to transgress which
creates our Karma..

The initiate learns that not warfare against darkness, but detachment
of personality from it is the way to overcome it and like the sculptor
having in his mind an inspired idea, hacking his way to the beauty of
the marble within, like a musician with a divine rhythm thundering in
his mind, seeking transmutation into harmonised music; like a poet or
artist seeking expression in Beauty to the Divine Idea seeking
manifestation; so the neophyte takes the path of transmuting the
earthly to reflect the cosmic principle in full Self consciousness of
soul's descent to matter.

The Centre of the 5 point star is merging with its circumference.  The
neophyte is organising the physical life for higher use while
developing the active intelligence (Manas) in the causal body.

He is organising the (Kama Manas) emotional life at the lower level
while unfolding the intuitional love in the Buddhic (Wisdom) body. He
is trying to arrange the mental life, while the Ego is strengthening
the atmic or spiritual will.  As he was developing he has advanced.

As he was trying to control, he has entered the path to perfection and
seen the Divine Power that dwelleth in every man.  The journey of the
pilgrim soul of the neophyte or Entered Apprentice to the next degree
or Fellow Craftsman is an ascending journey from dense physical to
spiritual atmic body.  And he must cross the bridge at will in full
consciousness and learn o function in the abstract, synthetic mind.
In short, inner and outer activity is being harmonised on the road to
illumination.

The 6 pointed Star has two interlaced triangles and the letter G in
the form of a circle in the middle.  This letter standing for God or
Geometrician is a change introduced by Jewish lodges supplanting the
earlier symbol of a circled serpent with the tail in the mouth.

This great Naga or Serpent Circle, symbolised the serpent fire known
as the Kundalani Shakti.  It signified the force which moves in a
curved path in its incessant pursuit of the negative by the positive,
of the external by the internal, of the matter by the spirit, bringing
about continual adjustment.  The serpent circle also symbolised
eternity, the universal life principle that has neither a beginning
nor end, or the created universe forming a perfect circle.  It also
symbolised wisdom, perfection, psychological regeneration and
immortality.

The serpent has incubated cosmic matter and cast off the old skin to
assume a new one after a period of rest (pralaya).

The 6 point star has also a hidden 7 point at the centre - the living
fire, the germ of the 6 - the Universal Principle.  The channels of
energy in this Star are much wider than in the 5 point Star and the
Serpent Fire or Kunalani Shakti coiled at the base of the spine now
begins to function in that neophyte who follows the path faithfully.

The Double Triangle viewed by Jewish Kabalists as Solomon's Seal or
the Star of David is the geometrical synthesis of the whole occult
doctrine.

There are two triangles, which by themselves depict the earthly and
divine or cosmic planes.  The former denotes the dense physical body
with its etheric counterpart, the astral body with its desires and
emotions and the lower mind or mental state.  The latter denotes the
evolution of the cosmic principle Unity to Duality and Trinity.  One
is Divine Love, Power and Wisdom concealed; the other is Love, Power
and Wisdom revealed or manifested in phenomenal world.

When the 2 triangles are interlaced, it signifies that purified
manasic matter used by purifying, aspiring thought has found
harmonisation and transcended the sense of separateness and is in full
alignment with the Ego or Higher Self.  There is harmony between
personality and individuality, the higher and lower 3 fold selves,
between ideal and conduct and between vision and action.  The
immeasurable analogies of spirit and matter, Theory and Practice are
reconciled in a harmonious life.

The Masonic Craft has been a means of interior re-ascent, grade by
grade, to a perfect state of illumination.  The hidden centre of the 5
pointed star held out the hope and promise of ascent into full
experience.  Now attainment is that hope realised.  Faith in the
Higher Self is firmly established.  In the ceremony of the Temple of
Amen Ra of Egypt it is said : " - Ra unveils the Light, when we unveil
ours."

The 6 point star denotes the stage where the veil is removed : the
sense of separateness between man and God is no more, because Maya is
no more.  The neophyte is now an evolving spiritual entity.  By the
Light of the 5 Point Star, the Entered Apprentice discovered the
possibilities of becoming like the being embodied in the 5 Pointed
Star light.  The 6 Point Star depicts the neophyte has become, since
the two are one.  The soul and transmuted body, vibrating spiritually
and psychically in a higher key, work in union having found a common
entity in the centre which is God.  The Master has been a stepping
stone and door to God.  Purification has yielded illumination.

The 6 Point Star epitomises the drama-descended he-ascended he.  Body
has been subordinated to the spiritual will.  The heart has been
subordinated to the Eternal Love, the mind has been subordinated to
the Eternal Intelligence.

Both the 5 Pointed and 6 Pointed Stars have expressed the law by which
existence is fulfilled but on a different level and degree of
communication.

The 7 Point Star is on the Tracing Board of the first degree and an
entire piece of architecture can be devoted to it, by those in the
higher degrees.

From our degree we can only surmise that it denotes the stage of
complete atonement with life in the Buddhic consciousness when nothing
exists outside the One Self, where the disciple, having climbed the
ladder is now of the Fire that can itself illumine the others.  At one
with the Higher Self he is the Way, having reached the end of the
Pathway on the 7 levels of consciousness, transcending the 7 degrees
of matter, having vivified the 7 appropriate vehicles of the great
force centres, nerve plexuses or chakras, striking the 7 notes of a
chord of harmony, embodying he attributes of the 7 Rays, holding the 7
Keys of Life opening all doors to Life, enfolding the 7 fold
attributes of Nature, overshadowed by the 7 High intelligences of
Light, abiding in unity and in attunement with the Divine Mind.  The
power of the Cosmos is now at his disposal and he will use that deific
power only for the Great Evolutionary Plan.

Universal Love is expressed by him through service and blessing poured
out to others. He travels from within, outwards, -- buddhic vision co-
ordinating with cosmic action.  Now disciple, Master and God are one
in indivisible unity, giving out to others, Light from the Sacred Fire
that never diminishes however often it lights another fire.  He gives
as he has received. He is a Living Temple where there is no darkness.
His Light shineth even in our darkness.

When Osiris in the heart knows Osiris in the Heavens then man becomes
God.

In those early times the secular and the spiritual were interlinked,
for the Pharaoh had as his solemn duty, to flood his whole kingdom
with the Hidden Light.

The times we live in call for such co-ordination of spiritual
channelising of Divine Light. A mason is a co-worker with the cosmic
ruler in the unfolding of His cosmic purpose.  I is said that if we
retard our evolutions we retard the evolution of the whole solar
system.  If we advance, the whole of evolution is quickened.

So each of us, at the 5 pointed, 6 pointed or 7 pointed Star level is
a miniature Lodge or Temple, receiving the radiating, inflowing Atmic
Fire and in turn outpouring it.

One of the obligations and duties of a mason is to perceive the crying
needs of the world.  Masons can by virtue of their craft, flood the
secular world with spiritual life.  The governments of the world must
needs reflects the spirit of cosmic government, since humanity is part
of the Being of God.  Just as it was the duty of pharaoh to flood his
kingdom with the hidden light, a mason must not merely participate in
the ceremony of the Masonic Temple as a mere onlooker of a ceremonial
but on the level of his or her degree purposefully and consciously
send by thought forms, Divine power to those fields of life where it
is most needed.  This has to be done in absolute faith that God's
power supports us in all our undertakings which are in keeping with
the laws of Light.  The Principle of ministration by the more evolved
to the less evolved is one of these laws of Light and is of universal
application and fundamental to the fulfilment of the plan whereby the
Cosmic Plan and the Universe progresses.  Every Masonic, microcosmic
achievement or silent expression of our will, helps in the liberation
of the macro-cosmic scheme to the ineffable glory of God.  Just as the
two triangles of the six pointed star co-ordinated, so can the
individual mason find co-ordination in the 7 pointed star in
identification of the individual with the universal.  The outward 5
pointed star fanned the inward divine spark to a flame.  The neophyte
travelled far inwardly to the 6 pointed star, bringing down to the 3
lower worlds the great spiritual force of the higher.  The 7 pointed
Star pours out that force from inwards outwardly and at our lodge the
mason must do this too in full faith since he is a channel for divine
energy.  He has not only to get but to give since a mason must do this
too in full faith since he is a channel for divine energy. He has not
only to get but to give since a mason is a builder of a Temple which
is the embodiment of the principle of unity which is beyond time and
space, and of the principle of the Love of Life.  God has not only to
be manifested in Man but in the universe as well.

Hence when linking ourselves to the Stars of our Temple are evolving
entities progressively, symbolising the great Truth : - In the
Beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and he Word was God.

Jesus the human Christ principle of the Word that God made flesh is
the five pointed star.  It became into the perfect Heavenly Man or the
Mystic Christ of the six pointed star.  It became the seven pointed
star of the cosmic Christ which is BEING -- the concealed sun which
neither rises nor sets anymore.

As the whole personality of a mason becomes melted down into the Light
step by step, fragments of Light in the form of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 pointed
stars go on increasing in points, culminating in the many petalled
Divine splendour of the Lotus.  When the Higher Self of the Lotus
blooms after the long night at dawn, springing up from dense earth
matter to receive the rays of the Sun, radiant in its glory and
shining splendour, the flower of the Soul has opened.

When Stars have spread out to Infinite Light, the Silent Thinker hears
the Voice of the Silence : -

"The three that dwelt in Glory in the world of Maya have become one
star, the fire that burns but scorches not, the fire which is the
Upadhi of the Flame."