Desire That Devours: What the Compasses Teach Us
Download MP3In this episode, we explore the Buddhist realm of Hungry Ghosts - beings tormented by insatiable craving; and its profound parallels with the human condition. Whether it’s food, media, validation, or vice, desire often consumes us more than we consume it. Freemasonry offers symbolic tools, especially the Compasses, to set boundaries and cultivate restraint—not to deny desire, but to transcend it.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Desire is insatiable by nature; awareness is the first step toward mastery.
- The realm of Hungry Ghosts is a metaphor for compulsive consumption.
- The Compasses symbolize restraint, containment, and disciplined freedom.
💬 Featured Quotes
“Hungry ghosts… beings with big heads and tiny necks—unable to ever be filled.” — [00:00:18]
“You’re never going to run out of desire. That’s why we need tools to contain it.” — [00:01:08]
“You finish one bite and before you even taste it, the next one’s already in your hand.” — [00:01:30]
“If you don’t understand that your desires are insatiable, you can never transcend them.” — [00:01:54]
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Creators and Guests

Host
Brian Mattocks
Host and Founder of A Mason's Work - a podcast designed to help you use symbolism to grow. He's been working in the craft for over a decade and served as WM, trustee, and sat in every appointed chair in a lodge - at least once :D
