Welcome to the Scottish right Journal podcast an audio presentation of the Scottish right Journal brought to you by the Supreme Council of the Scottish right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the world this week’s article is subduing our passions freemasonry’s hidden willpower Lesson by brother Michael W Warton 32nd degree and
Comes from the January February 2022 issue of the Scottish right Journal when I started started attending Lodge regularly several years ago one part of masonic ritual always stood out prominently as one is encouraged to learn to subdue one’s passions and improve oneself in masonry I was eager
To receive instruction on how to improve my self-control after a couple of years of regularly attending meetings however I had not experienced a single speech seminar or workshop on how to subdue one’s Passions somewhat disappointed I decided to do my own research on resisting temptation or more aptly put
Increasing willpower based on my readings of books such as New York Times Reporter Charles doiggs The Power of Habit why we do what we do in life and business and Dr Kelly McGonagle’s The Willpower Instinct how self-control works why it matters and what you can do
To get more of it it became clear to me that circumscribing our desires and keeping our passions within the due bounds and points of the compasses are learnable skills regularly performing mental focus exercises strengthens willpower pushing the brain to create new neural Pathways and increasing willpower the centerpiece of Freemasonry
Is of course one big mental focus exercise memorization of ritual by working regularly to commit our ritual to memory we control our attention and focus on the task at hand doing so over time improves our ability to self-regulate and as a consequence to resist our immediate impulses a similar Masonic task requiring deliberate
Control of focus and self-regulation is found in our obligations Keeping a Secret the ancient brain preoccupied with instant gratification and basic survival has an instinct to reveal the hidden information in order to relieve the stress of hiding it while the higher brain is geared towards the loftier goal
To suppress that instinct to win the battle the higher brain or conscience is required to focus and self-regulate which if done successfully increases one’s willpower Reserve simply joining a masonic lodge and surrounding oneself with like-minded men improves self-control Masonic lodges are veritable incubators of virtue in which the high standards of equality rectitude
Of conduct and compassion are are drilled ad nauseum if we believe that the brother standing next to us is applying these standards in his life we will too focusing on lofty thoughts such as the ideals of Freemasonry tends to Foster self-control with higher level thinking people are less likely to
Indulge the Instinct for instant gratification when a masonic lodge is closed we hear the beautiful and emphatic Words which can only direct a Mason’s Focus towards compassion these generous principles are to extend further every human being has a claim on your kind offices it turns out that
While I had been waiting for a seminar or PowerPoint slide presentation on resisting temptation Freemasonry had been strengthening my willpower all along every time the lodge opened or closed when I sat in a quiet place memorizing the ritual or when I reminded myself to always conceal and never
Reveal I was learning how to subdue my passions like so many other Masonic lessons this one was hidden in plain sight like and share this article and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you wish to comment please leave one and as a reminder hit the notifications Bell any accompanying photographs or
Citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition the Scottish right Journal is published by the Supreme Council of the Scottish right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the World Mark dryson stock 33rd degree managing editor I’m your host Matt Bowers
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