Travelling Light: Masonic Meditations on the Search for Illumination: Masonic Meditations, #7

By Jonti Marks

Almost the first thing that we ask for as newly-made Masons is light. From that moment, we are led through the teachings of the Craft until, as Master Masons, we face the ultimate test of our courage and fidelity, only to learn that all the light we have thus far accumulated is but darkness visible.
And so we start to ask, if the light of this world is only darkness visible, what is true light? Where does it come from? How do we acquire it? How do we benefit from it? How do we use it for the benefit of others? And how, ultimately, do we become it?
And so begins our quest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonti Marks
• Release date: Apr 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215139455

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

Copyright Notice:

First published in 2023 by Jonti Marks

Smashwords Edition: ISBN: 9798215139455

© Jonti Marks 2023

The right of Jonti Marks to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests write to the author at: [e-mail]

Cover image (lamp): © Can Stock Photo / Lilia

For more information, please visit:

www.masonicmeditations.com

www.jontimarks.com

Contents

Copyright Notice:

Introduction.

A Word.

And Thanks.

Dedication.

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2

3

4

5

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The ‘Masonic Meditations’ Series

Introduction.

Almost the first thing that we ask for as newly- made Freemasons is, light. From that moment, we are led through the teachings of the Craft until, as Master Masons, we face the ultimate test of our courage and fidelity, only to be told that all the light we have thus far accumulated is but "darkness

visible.’

In some ways, it is here that our true search for illumination begins. All of our endeavours in the material world have brought us to the brink of an open grave, and we are faced, in very immediate and graphic terms, with the reality of our own mortality; with the inescapable fact that our days are numbered and that this life is a fleeting and insubstantial shadow.

It is a fearful moment, but also one that carries a great gift. Many, perhaps most, people in this world do not fully believe that they are going to die until they do – by which time it is too late! But we Freemasons are lucky. We are given the opportunity to face death before we die, and thus to find within ourselves something beyond the material; something that will give meaning and

value to all that we do, and all that we are, even while we comprehend that all of it is temporary and, thus, illusory.

And so we begin to ask ourselves some important questions. What is life? What is it for? What is our function and purpose?

As Freemasons, we understand that the answers will be found within our one key, unassailable belief: that under God, we are all connected, all one, all Brothers and Sisters. And also as Freemasons, we start to ask, if this life is ‘darkness visible,’ what is true light? Where does it come from? How do we acquire it? How do we benefit from it? How do we use it for the benefit of others? And how, ultimately, do we become it?

All the quotations in this book have some connection with light and the concept of inner illumination. All of the meditations are my thoughts, at a given moment, on what that quotation might mean for us as Freemasons; what gift it carries, what insight it may bring.

The title of this book is a deliberate play on words. We often describe ourselves as ‘travellers.’ We travel from West to East – from darkness to light. But we also aim to be the light, and so we illumine the path for others as we go. And, understanding that we are temporary sojourners in this material world, we try to move through it unburdened: by cares, by fears, by the accumulation of things. We travel light; we travel towards the light and, eventually, we are light that travels.

May it ever be thus.

A Word.

As ever, I would like to acknowledge the fact that any use of the word ‘God’ is difficult. It is loaded and overloaded with preconceptions. I use it because it is the most convenient word we have for the concept of a Supreme Being. I use it, as far as possible, without wanting to define it, and I urge you to understand it in your own terms. I have attached the masculine pronouns to it because that is the convention.

I have also, as usual, used masculine pronouns when referring to Freemasons. Again, because I am a male Freemason, this is the convention of our language and, as far as I can see, there is no way linguistically to include both male and female Freemasons without things becoming clumsy. I do recognise that not all Freemasons are male.

In labelling and identifying the quotations, I have mostly given names and not been more specific, ie. the particular works from which they come. So a quotation might be attributed to Hermann Hesse, for example, without saying that it comes from his book, Siddhartha. Quotations from the Bible tend just to have the Book title, Chapter and verse number. Quotations from other Sacred Volumes are often a bit more vague. I apologise if this causes any difficulty, but given the huge range of translations and interpretations available, it is not always easy for an 'outsider' such as myself to be accurate. I feel that inaccuracy would be worse. No disrespect is intended.

And Thanks.

I would like to thank my Brothers Ed King and Paul Chapman for their steady support of my work, both practical and moral. Particular thanks to Paul for undertaking the task of proofreading my manuscript and helping me to find and correct errors. Any that remain are wholly my responsibility.

JAM

Feb 2023

Dedication.

With love and thanks to Jan and Maria for the loan of ‘Juliette’ and for the gifts of time and space to write.

1

Having been kept for a considerable time in a state of darkness, what, in your present situation, is the predominant wish of your heart?

Light.

1st Degree Ceremony

The first thing we ask for as Freemasons is ‘light.’ There is a practical reason for this, of course: up until that point in the ceremony, we have been in darkness. But there are other factors at

play. From a Masonic point of view, light is restored to us in such a way that the first thing we see will be the ‘Great Lights,’ the Volume of the Sacred Law, the