Spiritual evolution, truth and the neters

[Dover]

"The academic examination of religion per se and religions generally tends to concentrate upon their intellectual expression. This approach can hardly be expected to reach much beyond the first layer of "skin" of any religion, but within this layer are other "skins," plus the original revelation or presentation. Further inward the fullness and joy of participation in the soul and spirit of a religion are accessible only to the committed individual."

---


The Twin Halls
By I. M. Oderberg


In ancient Egypt it was a long journey to the Two Halls of the Maati, i.e., Truth. There were many vicissitudes on the way, described in varying detail in the sacred ritual enacted for the dead and for aspirants undergoing special training. In this training, the soul sought to penetrate the veil between earth life and the next phase beyond it. It passed through the "Opening of Hathor," and after experiencing a deep probe of its character it entered the Double Hall, to be irradiated by the Light therein and the newly awakened light within itself.

Origen, one of the early Church Fathers, tells us that the Egyptians had a most noble and secret wisdom concerning the nature of the Divine, contained symbolically in the mythic accounts of their "gods" which he termed fables and allegories -- not in a demeaning sense but to indicate that profound inner truths about the cosmos were imbedded in them. The Egyptian Neters were impersonal principles operating throughout the cosmos, not "gods" as we understand the term. The Neter Maat, for instance, referred not to a goddess but to the intelligence, the principle, we call Order, Balance, Truth, Duty, etc.

While the people of Egypt's far past may have entered more fully into the inwardness of the myths than those of the later centuries who only treasured the stories as such, there were some among the latter who were concerned with meanings. A graded course of instruction was presented in the so-called Book of the Dead, in the Coffin Texts (writings inscribed on the coffins of certain high dignitaries and priests), and in the Pyramid Texts and paintings on the walls of tombs such as that of the Pharaoh Unas...

All these texts represent both the slower course of evolutionary experience and the more rapid progress of candidates "initiated" into new levels of themselves. The ceremonies are not the actual achievements, only the recorders of them...


cont'd

http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/med/my-imo4.htm

[RandomThoughts]

1. There is a common error in that post.

If Horus faced mythical creatures to overcome them, so do we have to face and decide between today's hedonist pattern of living and the more refined association with the uplifting processes of the universe.

That is the error of 'having to choose in a way defined by someone else. Ghandi said it well, he will try everything, then decide. The idea being all is available and it is his choice to set what is what he thinks he should be part of or what is best.

Most 'groups' have a 'set' of things you have to conform to, and anytime you have to choose between any group and any other group, effectively you are required to give something up.

The net effect of someone else setting some group for you to 'join' is to remove something from you.

I believe if something is wrong, that will be made clear by your own thought and feeling, and you do not have to conform to some belief system based on someones set of values, that usually include many biases for other reasons.

So the idea of having to purify to some standard, or become like some group, or give up any action, I think is a delusion to give up what you do not have, to if such things can exist without harm to others, or creating unsustainable societies.

So once again, I like many songs, and don't think I have to pick by some 'standard' set by someone elses interpretations.

And I am due beer and travel money.

[Dover]

2. I agree with your statement. However I don't quite get

what it has to do with the statement you've excerpted. Maybe you can explain how you interpret that statement.

I think it just generally refers to choices of strict materialism, dualism or perhaps better expressed as the unevolved consciousness and a more intentional and conscious living. Essentially the mythical stories have to do with inner growth and conflict to improve connection with the divine and nondualism.

I don't think that negates or restricts any experience.

[RandomThoughts]

3. When you have to 'decide' between paths.

you are following, or choising between what someone else sets as your choices.

I think blazing your own trail is a third option. So in the context of that, I don't think you have to decide between.

decide between today's hedonist pattern of living and the more refined association with the uplifting processes of the universe.

Note that people define those things differently also, and much of 'making those choices' is based on someone elses definitions.


So basically all you do by making either of those choices would be to give up something, why would you do that, if something can be explained as wrong, then you would choose not to do that particular thought or action. But to assume that transcendence includes a transformation into a form someone else decides for you is not transcendence but joining something else, or that is how I see it.

So why would you give up being partially 'hedonistic' although I think most people see that word really badly, but some people might include perfectly normal joys like dancing and singing in that. And some things people would think of as hedonistic I would disagree with of coarse, but that would be by a choice of thinking they are not better, not by some definition of what I would have to be like.

[tanyev]

4. Marking to read later.