Originally posted by AugustusMasonicus

Originally posted by pianopraze
It actually makes me interested in being a Mason to gain access to further readings on the topics.

You do not need to be a Mason to enjoy reading other esoteric works on the Fraternity. An open solicitation of suggestions would yield you years worth of reading.

edit on 22-7-2011 by AugustusMasonicus because: networkdude has no beer.

I have a back log of years worth of reading. My problem is lack of framework for understanding.

Studying this material is akin to reading strait through a bible... you have to know a lot of back material before you can understand what you are reading.

I know some but when it comes to this material most writings seem deliberately obscure. I was surprised how direct and open pike was with much of this material. He confirmed much of what I was suspecting from other readings. Bust still yet I'm not sure I understood a lot of what is presented. Everything is in layers of understanding, and the book still is missing a lot of context because it is referencing things not written obviously as it is a commentary on each degree.

FORTHCOMING TITLE:

Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry: Annotated Edition (hardbound)
----------------------------------------​----------------------
Available for sale at the Supreme Council Session – AUGUST 22, 2011.
Available at scottishritestore.org – SEPTEMBER 1, 2011.
----------------------------------------​----------------------

By Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, G.C., Grand Archivist and Grand Historian; Contributions and Glossary by Rex R. Hutchens, , 33°, G.C., Past Grand Master; Foreword by Ronald A. Seale, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander.

A Masonic classic! The fundamental source book of Scottish Rite philosophy--now available in a new, user-friendly, and scholarly edition!

First published from 1872 to 1969, "Morals and Dogma" is one of the most insightful works ever prepared for Freemasonry. It is a collection of thirty-two essays which provide a rationale for the Scottish Rite degrees. It encompasses a study of Freemasonry, wise philosophy, ancient mysteries, mythology, ritual, and religion. It serves the useful purpose of putting Masonic morality and ethics within the context of the general society, and bids man to think large--to cast aside the petty concerns of everyday life and to improve ourselves.

This new edition includes the complete original text, but has been fully updated and improved. Spelling errors have been corrected, and it is set in clear, easy-to-read type; it retains the original pagination within the body of the text, while new subject headings and paragraph numbers make finding passages easy!

Approximately 4,000 notes reveal the original sources used by Pike, clarify passages, suggest further reading, and include cross-references. New "ready references" reveal scriptural sources.

Profusely illustrated with many images from the original sources Pike had before him when he prepared the original edition.

New glossary, with primary and secondary bibliographies, and a new index.

A detailed introduction on the history of Morals and Dogma.

Hardbound (8" x 10") with decorative covers, printed in two colors; illustrated, indexed; 1116 pages.

Originally posted by senrak
Hardbound (8" x 10") with decorative covers, printed in two colors; illustrated, indexed; 1116 pages.

Any wagers on what percentage of that 1116 pages is on the 28th degree? (For whatever reason, in the original M&D, Ch. 28 is more than a quarter of the book. Some degrees get a measly 3 or 4 pages by comparison.)

Originally posted by Theosophical
I read Morals & Dogma. I do not recall anything of specific value other than maybe a forced altering of consciousness after one trudges through it all. I don't remember any real data of value. I have read other books that were much more illuminating. M&D could be a good start though for somebody new. It definitely requires effort and it will have you thinking in new ways.

Blavatsky is much more valuable. The real secret is tipped by Blavatsky. I believe that is why she is ridiculed. 99.99% of people reading Blavatsky have no idea.

When I was a teenager I tried reading Morals and Dogma and also thought it contains no valuable information whatsoever. I also deemed Blavatsky more interesting. Now, a few decades later, I picked the book up again and am enthralled by it, while having no interest in Blavatsky.

So it might be an age thing.

Originally posted by Skyfloating

Originally posted by Theosophical
I read Morals & Dogma. I do not recall anything of specific value other than maybe a forced altering of consciousness after one trudges through it all. I don't remember any real data of value. I have read other books that were much more illuminating. M&D could be a good start though for somebody new. It definitely requires effort and it will have you thinking in new ways.

Blavatsky is much more valuable. The real secret is tipped by Blavatsky. I believe that is why she is ridiculed. 99.99% of people reading Blavatsky have no idea.

When I was a teenager I tried reading Morals and Dogma and also thought it contains no valuable information whatsoever. I also deemed Blavatsky more interesting. Now, a few decades later, I picked the book up again and am enthralled by it, while having no interest in Blavatsky.

So it might be an age thing.

I'm 42 and the polar opposite it would appear.

And wondering what you found in Morals & Dogma while missing the keys in Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine. I never could have caught the 9-month cycle on my own without Blavatsky preparing me for it. The books literally primed me for the revelation. I've never talked to anybody that understood, or if they did they would not admit it. It is something I have studied for 14 years now and it is the most intense aspect of my life.

That and encoded public broadcast. The invisible inside the visible.

Originally posted by Theosophical
I'm 42 and the polar opposite it would appear.

Then you're older than me.

And wondering what you found in Morals & Dogma while missing the keys in Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine. I never could have caught the 9-month cycle on my own without Blavatsky preparing me for it. The books literally primed me for the revelation. I've never talked to anybody that understood, or if they did they would not admit it. It is something I have studied for 14 years now and it is the most intense aspect of my life.

If you're that much into Theosophy I dont really want to question that or make it bad. All I can say is I appreciate Morals and Dogma today and did not appreciate it when I was younger.

I understand various parts of the book differently than I did decades ago, due to a change in perspective. A gardener notices more about gardens than a layman. A butcher notices more about meat than a baker. Its the same with that book. The eyes through which you read, determine what you pick up.

Reading Pike requires a pretty good back ground in world religions, ancient dead religions, and mythology to understand where his head is at....helps to know abit about the 1800's as well.....so I think as your education, formal, or self taught expands...so does much of Pike......as well as his flaws. The Golden Bough was dry for me at that age....and i didn't see the big deal, now i find it much more interesting. Also I guess as I have gotten older source material tends to become more interesting then someone telling me what to see and think.

Blavatsky......eh no comment aside from, I think her and Phineas Taylor have more in common.

Originally posted by ForkandSpoon


Blavatsky......eh no comment aside from, I think her and Phineas Taylor have more in common.

Yep. That is the common opinion. Yet Blavatsky explains how the stock market works. She literally spells it out for the ones that can read it. She tells you how the stock market moves and on what time cycle it turns.