Summary; Introduction 33rd degree knowledge in Freemasonry

audio link

– Philosophy is the science of estimating values, concerned with the primary nature of existence, knowledge, and ethics.
– Philosophical thought is classified into six main disciplines: metaphysics, logic, ethics, psychology, epistemology, and aesthetics.
– Early Greek philosophy initiated with figures like Thales, and developed through the Pre-Socratic, Socratic, and post-Socratic periods into diverse schools such as Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism.
– Philosophy is not indigenous to Greece but was greatly influenced by ancient civilizations such as those in Egypt, India, and the Middle East.
– The Mysteries of antiquity held secret philosophical and spiritual teachings, preserved through symbols and allegory to avoid desecration by the uninitiated.
– Many celebrated philosophers, including Pythagoras and Plato, were initiated into these mysteries and derived much of their wisdom from them.
– Symbolism is crucial for understanding the deeply concealed knowledge of the ancients; it both reveals and conceals truth, depending upon the observer’s level of understanding.
– The preservation of ancient wisdom through symbols, allegories, and rituals was a deliberate action by the sages to ensure their knowledge survived through the dark and golden ages of human civilization.
– The secret doctrine hidden within these esoteric symbols offers deep insights into life’s inner mysteries, accessible to those who can decipher this universal language of symbolism.

The profound discourse on the “Secret Teachings of All Ages” explores the intricate tapestry of philosophy as the science dedicated to estimating values and discerning the essence of existence, knowledge, and ethical living.

Grounded in six principal disciplines—metaphysics, logic, ethics, psychology, epistemology, and aesthetics—philosophical thought endeavours to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos and human consciousness.

This exploration unveils that the roots of Greek philosophy, often celebrated as the cradle of Western thought, extend deeply into the ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, and the Middle East, where the first seeds of wisdom were sown within the hallowed halls of mystical institutions.

Central to this ancient wisdom was the use of symbols and allegories, a universal language crafted by the initiates of the Mysteries to both conceal and reveal profound truths across the ages.

This symbolic language served as a vessel for the preservation and transmission of esoteric knowledge, safeguarded from the profanation by the uninitiated and destined for those seekers of truth capable of deciphering its hidden meanings.

Within these ancient symbols lie the keys to understanding the innermost mysteries of existence, offering timeless insights that continue to illuminate the path of seekers and sages alike.

This concludes the Lecture on the Introduction, to the 33rd degree knowledge in Freemasonry, inspired by the works of Manly P Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages.

We suggest you take some time to consider the lessons taught in this section, and how you might want to apply these to your own personal and professional life before moving on to the next Lesson.