What are we seeing clearer now?
How is the harmony achieved?
To all. I'm a very cause / effect sort of person. I believe in the logical explanation of things whether physical or metaphysical. I've been contemplating life, religion, church, morals, self, the lodge, integrity, among others for some time now. Masonry offers something so profound to me and yet it is offered so simply, that I am starting to see it as the focal point. I imagine this idea as the cornerstone, the ultimate truth, the reason of not just Masonry but perhaps of life. Looking back at some of the great writings on Freemasonry, I see evidence of others viewing the Craft and our life on earth similarly.
I wanted / want to see if the great ideas above that everyone has posted could be reduced to an ultimate cause. I wanted to see if that cause would be singular or common to every idea above.
Let me give you an example utilizing philosophy. Classical liberalism (not the democrat kind) was a philosophy embraced by our founding fathers. It was described in the Declaration of Independence. It (the philosophy) declares that man has unalienable rights in which to pursue happiness. Happiness is neither defined nor is the path to happiness. But, Man must be free in order to pursue it. Why was pursuing happiness so important? Because that concept is the very point of man's existence. When asked what's most important to us, we might reply God or family or community. When asked why, we might unknowingly dive into metaphysical talk saying that their happiness is important to us for peace of mind etc. When asked why again, then again, then again, the ultimate answer that pops out? Our happiness.
Classical Liberalism says that the ultimate goal of mankind is to make himself happy and that man must be free to make his own decisions to bring about that happiness. Sounds selfish doesn't it? That's only because the assumption made is the vast majority of people don't understand what constitutes true happiness. In understanding my happiness is directly tied to the happiness of others around me, then the selfish tint of the idea is washed away and gives way to the paladin which is morality. I could go on and on about the resulting implications.
This exercise if not properly worded would take us to that idea of happiness. But I wanted to stop it short of that answer. I wanted the "how" question answered.
Consider the common description "a beautiful system of morals, veiled in allegories and illistrated by symbols."
I can't find nor better describe Freemasonry.