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DGM's Messages 2009
2010
'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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2010 January February March April May June July August September October November December RW DGM' s MESSAGE FOR January 2010
POSSESSIONS AND POSSESSIVENESS The
Festival Season just concluded from Diwali through Christmas reminds us of Gifts
and Giving. It led one also to thoughts of the contrary motives underlying
possessions and possessiveness, the ability or inability of human beings to
share the gifts of Providence with those less endowed. Sharing
bespeaks Love and of course in a natural course leads to benevolence.
Possessiveness, on the other hand, bespeaks of a selfish desire to hold and to
have and not to share the enjoyment of the possessed item with others, whether
they be family or friends. The act of sharing enhances enjoyment. I
have myself over fifty years or more practiced the enjoyment of possessions
without the ownership attached thereto. One has lived in family and company
mansions, associated with Clubs and Institutions without the slightest claim to
ownership of any of these facilities, and yet had the benefits of total
enjoyment of their offerings. Another
outlook I have always had is to live rich, not being much taken with wishing to
die rich. Those who wish the latter are often those who do not enjoy the use of
their assets, but just revel in counting their pennies. In our culture there is
a saying that some do not have the good fortune of enjoyment – (Anubhava Yogam I
think it is called) while others like myself have been endowed with that
blessing – even without personal material wealth. For
many years, well-meaning friends have advised me against this bias against
ownership, as at any time any family members owning my accommodation for the
time being could turf me out on to the streets. To which my answer has always
been that act would underscore poor breeding for which I as a parent was
responsible – so it would be a punishment for bad parenting and an improper
transfer of ethical values. A
parent has the duty of providing for the security of his family but beyond
needs, lies dangerous moral ground – Greed. Once, therefore, basic hygiene and
security considerations have been taken care of, the community must be addressed
to share one’s competences and assets with it, for in an indirect sense the
community has contributed to the individual’s security, status and well-being. I
have introduced a personal note in this New Year message, as I reflect in the
evening of my life of the many fulsome gifts with which the Great Architect has
endowed me, and which, in some part, through my membership of this great
fraternity I have been able to put to use. I shall continue to do so to the
end, leaving as I arrived without money or metallic substance about me. In closing, let me wish all my Brethren of whatever Masonic order, a Very Happy, Healthy and Compassionate New Year.
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Maintained by
J.M.I. Sait for
the DGL - Madras |
