Curitiba/2002
Gran Oriente Latinoamericano
Potencia Simbólica Masonica
Libertad Igualdad FraternidadThe Mason Between Doubt and Certainty
¿From whence we came?
Relativity versus Certainty
Masonry of the XVIII century, made the essence of initiative societies that were seeking the truth, knowledge, the perfection of the individual and society, incorporating the fundamental values of modern science and reasoning. In the XVIII and XIX centuries Masonry was the center of ideas of freedom and knowledge, leaving in its wake pathways of liberty for all people, combating slavery and the search for equality for all men. Scientist and Masons built in the XVIII century the encyclopedia, making it easier to spread ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity, both in the old as well as the new world.
The abundance of knowledge generated in that period, instilled enormous confidence in the reasoning mankind, taking it to a period of stability and progress, industrialization and wealth. Today we see that this has not continued, today man has less freedom, we have not achieve equality, fraternity does not rule.
Discoveries of the XX century have brought into question past certainties, product of reasoning that were use in the past to combat dark dogmas. From the moment of the forming of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, doubt has flourished greatly given what was being accepted at the time. Given the acceptance of both theories and others that denies them, we are faced with the certainty of relativity, the scientific theories and the movement towards the portals of such certainties.
¿ How has the thinking of Masonry change during this century XXI y direct relation with that of the XX century, especially after the changes that were happened to the human race, those that were foretold, because of the effect of the scientific and technological discoveries of the XX century? ¿How has masonry processed these new discoveries? ¿How has it influenced the Mason in his betterment both lodge wise as well as individually?
The discoveries of the XX century have us reflecting continuously about where we came from and to find out that we are of a cosmic origin, we are a part of a long biological chain, we are not alone, we have always been with those beings that form part of nature. It is because of this that man and woman have for centuries fought to be better.
If man could assume all the certainties that these discoveries present to him, if he really identifies as a cosmic being, life would be different. He would be able to accept that his lost of confidence and faith in the human race, is no more than a thought, that is passing through a difficult and terrible period of history, it is possible to regenerate new forms of living much more satisfactory, new harmony and solidarity that involves not only humanity but the whole universe.
¿ Who are we?
Doubt as an engine in search for truth
The Mason is a free person who tirelessly seeks the truth. This process of seeking is based on the symbolic method of doubt and questions.
Al doubt pushes for knowledge, discovery and stimulates the capacity to surprise. Certainty perhaps us to act, doubt pushes us to give quality and new ideas to certainties. Behind every certainty that implies that there has been advancement in knowledge, new doubts and emerges. If it was not so we would find ourselves along a dogmatic thinking and before truths that are immovable and foreign to the concept of masonry.
The vision of our times allows us to understand and relate to knowledge, understanding, and respect for nature and the cosmos. Looking back at that wide vision, we then acquired and are transported to another dimension of who we are.
As part of the development of the globalize universe, these times can create the possibility to benefit in the scientific and technical development or against a deepening actual advantage that clearly illustrates the inequalities between nations, cultures and individuals, with the majority consumed by hunger, poverty and loneliness.
We see how the dichotomy between the universal, regional or local become judgmental in universal values, generalizing the absolute, calling to attention the relative and the particular. Fundamentals aspects like cultural identities, religious beliefs, customs, genre aspects, of country, of ethnicity and groups that have to develop efforts facing overwhelming oaths impose by propaganda, consumerism, monopolies and critics of a superior system, cultures and means of seeing and living.
¿ How is the Mason to handle himself between the universal values and the particular values? ¿How is he to re-interpret the fundamental Masonic concepts of liberty, equality and justice?
¿ How is he to built inter culturally without losing sight of history and roots? If the prosecution of the individual and social utopias is characterize by mobility of the prize, new understanding and to reach them by the forming of new goals that are also moving borders. ¿ How to build multiple identities without destroying the old ones? ¿ How to know who we are in a cosmic, universal and particular sense?
¿Wither are we traveling?
Doubt gives credence to Tolerance to learn its diversities and dissents.
¿Is it possible to find open forms that would include enrichment of relationships of that path with concepts of multiplicity, multidimensional, inter relational, interconnecting and dynamic interactions?
¿Is it possible that through understanding we can built attitudes that would permit us to make reality that fraternal chain that in each lodge, in each Grand Lodge and Grand Orient, in Universal Masonry and Humanities?
The Mason of the XXI century will be confronted with the necessity to re interpret his principles, ideals and acts, and establish new ethical principle in the field of Science and society.
To reinterpret the principles of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Justice, Solidarity, in this complex universe, diverse, inter relational multidimensional and interconnected, will demand from the Mason attitudes that are special and dedicated to learning, understanding, humility. It would be necessary to value all forms of knowledge and understanding, new concepts of space and time, in order to open new doors that will teach us to value life, making it possible for peace, permitting all of us to share in happiness, beauty and built an ethical world without borders, within the diversity for the good of humanity.
The tolerance presuppose by Masonry is adjusted to the pluralism that is born from the respect for liberty for each mason who is in search for truth, of each human being in search for happiness, of each country in search for development. Applying all tolerance each mason is capable to listen to unethical opinions differing from his own, and while resting on doubt can in fact learn from them and discover that truth or part of it is found in the reasoning of the other.
He can then rebuilt the mosaic that is the vision of all humans, of all countries and cultures, all forms of being and reach closer to dreamt ideal.
Gonzalo A. Montoya Rivera
Grand Master Grand Latinamerican Orient
Orient of Concepcion, Chile March 2002.