Integral Studies Assignment Monthly Shemsu Level 1 Ariel Discussion Forum
Submitted by Asar Maat
Forum Name: Level 1, Lesson 14 Video Assignment, Introduction to Shetaut Nefer, 104-105 Parts 1 and 2
Series of Posts: Post# 6065 (Aspirant 1), 6068,/6067 (Aspirant 2), 6317 (Sebai), 6069 (Aspirant 1) 6319 (Sebai)
Summary of Student Post
Post 6065 (Student 1)
The student provided a summary, bullet pointing 20 important themes of the presentation. She related that what impressed her the most was the formula of sages that leads an aspirant to enlightenment and how applying the teachings to one’s life under a Spiritual Preceptor brings peace and certainty to one’s life. The student also related interaction to another student post and post of Sebai Maa relating her understanding of that to be “I am Asar, the Soul” while interacting in the world means “the ego is experiencing and doing, nothing. Whatever is created or accomplished, it is an act of the Soul and if it is in time and space it is illusory and I must remain detached from it.”
Post 6068,/6067 (Student 2)
In response to Student 1, Student 2 asked a question about item B in the post (“Shetaut Neter can be approached as a philosophy (a way of life) or as a religion”) requesting explanation about how philosophy can be separated from religion.
Post 6069 (Student 1)
Student 1 responded to Student 2’s reply post stating that philosophy is a part of religion, but that many people follow the religion by knowing the philosophy but not following it and explained how she seeks to incorporate the philosophy into her life.
Summary of Teacher Post
Post 6317 (Sebai)
Sebai noted that Student 1’s post was a “good summary” of the presentation. He also addressed two statements in the student’s post. First, he provided clarification about Ancient Egyptian Religion being the first advanced mature religion complete with “philosophy, writing, monuments, customs, etc.” versus being the earliest religion, as other societies had evidence of some notions of spirituality that came before Ancient Egypt. Second, he stressed as she implied that Enlightenment occurs in degrees and that gradual cleansing and purifying the heart leads to absolute awareness. Moreover, he stated that before moving to enlightenment occurs on needs to apply the wisdom to a life of ethical conscience (Maat).
Post 6319 (Sebai)
In response to Student 2s question to Student 1s post Sebai replying indicating that a useful way to understand the relationship between religion and philosophy is to understand the three steps or levels of learning authentic and full religion: Myth-Ritual-Mysticism/Metaphysics. He stated that a certain level of philosophy occurs at each level in accord with the level of practitioner advancement. When the religious practice is stunted there will be partial practice and partial understanding of the philosophical understanding. Thus one may not reach the mysticism or higher philosophical understanding. He stressed that late history orthodox religions like Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam practice religion without providing followers access to the higher philosophy and thus push people toward fundamentalism which can and has lead to external war, but internal disease, stress, and suffering.
Your impressions about the interactions and what you see as the takeaways for the student and for yourself both as a student and a clerical aspirant.
Reading the discussion posts are at times is like taking in a breath of fresh air. The sense of being refreshed and enlivened is how one would describe this. In addition to being impressed with Student 1s grasp of the presentation and the nuanced request for clarification by Student 2, the exchange moved me to reflect on my interactions with clients in my counseling practice and how I have and will respond to questions. I would like to write how I would respond to a segment of Post 6065 (Student 1) to convey a nuance of philosophical understanding…
If responding to the post I would say….
About statement….“Each day my focus while interacting in the world is that, I am Asar, the Soul, therefore the ego is experiencing and doing, nothing. Whatever is created or accomplished, it is an act of the Soul and if it is in time and space it is illusory and I must remain detached from it,”
It is very good to focus on oneself as Asar in daily life. A subtle nuance to understanding “I am Asar, the Soul” is that the Soul is the essence that does not experience and does nothing. The ego experiences in time and space that which is illusory and is to be detached from. Stated another way, you are to remember daily that you are the Soul that does not have experiences, but which manifests as the ego having illusory experiences in time and space.
Htp
Asar Maat
