Distant Peaks: Masonic Meditations on the Writings of Marcus Aurelius: Masonic Meditations, #6

By Jonti Marks

Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180CE. He was also a Stoic philosopher and is best known for his 'Meditations.' This new book from the author of 'Level Steps' and 'Hiram's Way' explores some of these Meditations from a Masonic perspective and offers deep and contemplative insights into the place and value of Freemasonry in today's world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonti Marks
• Release date: Jun 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005528577

Jonti Marks

Jonti Marks was born in London and grew up partly in England and partly in Kenya. He was a school teacher for 27 years and worked in Zambia, Kenya and the UK as an English and Drama teacher and also as a Head. He left teaching in 2013 to devote himself to his writing full-time. Jonti became a Freemason in Nairobi in 1990 and has always been interested in the deeper, spiritual significance of the Craft. His Masonic writings aim to illuminate these hidden depths and to help make Freemasonry relevant, useful and inspiring for Masons and non-Masons alike. Jonti's non-Masonic writings are largely informed either by his experiences as a teacher or by his life in Kenya - and often by his life as a teacher in Kenya! Jonti's book,' Teaching from the Heart:100 Meditations for Teachers' follows the format of the Masonic books and offers 100 inspirational messages for teachers, parents, policy makers and educationalists in every sphere who do so much to determine the well-being of our society and the future of the planet. It was written as a parting gift to the profession and is the distillation of a 30-year philosophy of education that appears increasingly important and even urgent in today's moral climate. 'The Bhagavad-Gita in 18 Sonnets' also reflects a lifetime's interest and a deep connection with the spiritual teachings of India. Jonti has been familiar with the Gita for all of his life and was moved to try to capture some of the essence and spirit of this sacred text in a wholly poetic form. You can find out more about Jonti at: www.jontimarks.com

Book preview

1.

You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

One of the first things we do as Freemasons is to acknowledge our reliance on God in ‘all cases of danger and difficulty.’ That, however, is not the end of the story, for reliance on the Divine is not an easy, passive surrender to whatever life throws our way. On the contrary, it commits us to a lifetime of mental and emotional endeavour as we search always to find the good and the positive in everything that material life, with all its joys and sorrows, can test us with. While we learn to trust in the ultimate beneficence of our Creator, we acknowledge that we alone are responsible for our attitudes to life, and we alone are the arbiters of our success and happiness. This is why, as Masons, we strive to cultivate an intellectual understanding of our place in the universe as well as an emotional and heartfelt sense of Brotherhood and connection with all life. The discipline inherent in such a daily practice is what allows us to develop strength of mind, and find the source and wellspring of our inner strength.

2.

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.

One of the three great pillars of Freemasonry is presented to us as Beauty, and from this we can understand that in the unbounded beauty of the natural world lie the secrets that will lead us to happiness and, in the end, to the throne of Heaven.

To see ourselves running with the stars is to meditate deeply on our connection with the whole universe. To connect our lives with the lives of the stars is to begin to acknowledge and understand our source and infinite natures and to feel - in a way that is beyond mere knowing - our connection with all.

Freemasonry points out to us the importance of contemplating the ancient liberal arts and sciences because they hold all the secrets that will enable us to fully sense the symmetry and order - and therefore the beauty - that lies in all of creation. And through a full appreciation of the wonders of creation, we will come, without fail, to know the Creator.

3.

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

The symbolism of Freemasonry is the symbolism of geometry: the science of the order and beauty that underlies all of creation. Through the contemplation of geometrical forms we are enabled to see beyond the apparent disorder and seeming chaos of the material world to an underlying framework upon which all is predicated. Through this contemplation of outer form, we are led, in time, to appreciate the importance of supporting our own lives - inner and outer - with similar structure. It is true that an untamed mind can know no peace, but a mind that is ordered and properly controlled can be the key to success, strength and happiness. Freemasonry asks us to contemplate the ordered constructs of geometrical form and begin to structure our lives and our thoughts in ways that are known and proven to bring us peace: the practice of gratitude; kindness and empathy: to think positive thoughts and to keep away ungrounded and baseless fears. To develop the discipline needed to fully trust in God and see all as Brothers: these are the true paths to happiness.

4.

Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

It does us no harm to remember that the frameworks on which we construct our inner lives are all different paths to understanding the great truths that are beyond words. All our religions, all of our attempts at gnosis - even Freemasonry itself - are attempts to say that which is unsayable. We Freemasons understand one great truth and we use it as the unifying bedrock of all else that we build: we believe in a Supreme Being, in God. From that one belief we are able to state unreservedly that Brotherhood or unity is the natural relationship between all facets of the created universe. Thus Freemasons rise above sectarian differences and can free themselves from the dogma and sense of exclusivity that has caused so much human suffering through the ages. It may be that the institution of Freemasonry is just another human construct, but while it remains built on that simple and fundamental foundation, there can be no doubt that it has something valuable and vital to offer the world at large.

5.

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

From the moment we first enter a Masonic Lodge and are asked to kneel to receive the benefit of Masonic prayer, we are given clear indications of the virtues we need to cultivate to be good men. There is also an assumption that we are already ‘good’ in that it is our inherent goodness that has led us to knock at this particular door. Humility, virtue, honesty, truth, honour, mercy, generosity, faith: these are all clear signals towards what we must aspire to be if we are to live up to the Masonic ideal of taking essentially good men and making them better still.

But to aspire to virtue is one thing; to have a clear path laid out before us is all very well; it is in the doing that these things are proved. We can talk about virtue all we want, but if we are not virtuous, it means nothing. We can see the path before us, but if we do not walk along it, then what good does it do us or the world? No temple was ever built through talk alone; a better world will not come about unless we start to make it.

6.

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

It’s a hard truth to learn: that we are fully responsible for our own reactions and emotions. We are often raised with a strong tendency to blame outside events or other people for the way that we feel and, of course, there are times when such reactions are