Udja,
Audio Level 1 Lesson 11Awt
Topic: How to Conduct Yourself as Initiate in Presence of Shedy (group), Preceptor and Shrine
What are the key points in the lecture in your words?
Fundamentals of conduct in a Temple environment:
– without harsh, vulgar, crude language
– without negative sentiment such as anger, lust, greed, envy, etc
– without carnal activity before service
– without consumption of foods outside Kemetic diet guidelines especially meats.
– without worldly possessions such as cell phones, beepers, etc
Seating in Temple environment:
– Posture should not be so comfortable as to promote tiredness
– No lying down or slouching
– Never extend the feet forward
– Chairs with backrest should be avoided
– Multiple sitting postures on floor or in chair are permitted such as:
o sitting cross legged, lotus posture, half lotus posture, chair with
hands on thighs, on ground with feet together, grasping
legs from side to side, and on knees and heels.
– The back should be straight and aligned as it represents the Djed Pillar.
Management of the Shrine
– The Shrine remains closed except during programs
– Only initiates and above may handle the Shrine
– Impure hands are not to touch the Shrine
– The Shrine contains divine symbology important and
meaningful to clergy and laity
Personal hygiene in the Spiritual Hall:
– Natural fabric clothing without insignias
– Bathing before entry
– The following are discouraged: tattoos, body art, piercings, artificial
chemicals on hair or body, ego jewelry, scarification and
other forms of bodily mutilation.
– Mental hygiene refers to the use of meditation to clear negativity
from the mind
– Speech hygiene refers to the use of divine chanting to settle negativity
of mind and speech
– All elements of hygiene are most important to work against a distracted,
diseased existence
Daily Practices for Spiritual Growth:
– Learn various Kemetic Yoga postures
– Other forms such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong can also be beneficial
– Practice postures and forms daily
– Perform chants and meditations daily
– Play morning worship tapes
– Learn how to handle your mind providing the right spiritual techniques at
the right time
– Mix intellectual understanding with experiential to deepen and
enliven spiritual teachings
– Apply instructions from daily tapes to your life.
– Kemetic Yoga is an integrated yoga practice consisting of several
components designed to be practiced in an interwoven fashion.
– Keep your mind constantly oriented towards the divine
– Stay balanced in life and maintain, Udja, the Divine Fire.
– Become, Shemsu, a follower and devotee of the spiritual teachings
– Creating an environment at home supportive of spiritual development
is encouraged
– Good association is supported through Shedy participation
How to Approach the Shrine, Spiritual Preceptor and other students:
– The Shrine, whether opened or closed, is reverenced by prostration
with toes curled in, hands extended in front of head and on the ground
with face kissing the ground.
– The Spiritual Preceptor is greeted with the Dua (adoration) posture,
hands out with palm facing upward, and the HTP greeting.
– Students greet each other with HTP and a bow.
Terminology Related to the Process of Teaching:
– A Seba is a star, an illuminating force, shining object,
disperser of darkness, bringer of light.
– A Sebai is one who has achieved Divine Consciousness,
a master of the mysteries, preserver of the initiatic tradition,
instructor of priest, priestess, and Preceptors.
– A Sebaut is one illuminated by the Seba and Sebai. They receive, integrate
and manifest the teachings.
– A Seba UR is a Great Illuminator. An Opener of the Mouth. The UR implement
represents the never setting stars in northern hemisphere signifying the
eternal nature of the divine.
Student Approach to the Teachings:
– One central tenet is to strive for stability and constancy. Minimizing
fluctuation and changes in mental states.
– Relationships with other students should be cordial and friendly, civil,
not sentimental, not worldly friendliness, businesslike and detached,
no exchange of personal issues, mindful of purpose to promote teachings,
and not disruptive in conduct.
– Try to spiritualization your interactions in the external world.
– Inside the Temple maintain an introspective orientation versus extroverted.
– Take time to repeat exposure to materials for increased depth of understanding
– Spiritual pursuits may require a great deal of thoughtfulness with respect
to others .
– Never embrace fanaticism and learn how to develop external dispassion.
– Sebai is the final authority in student level conflicts.
– Life should be experienced from the perspective of forgiveness and
understanding.
– Hatred, greed, lust, guilt, envy, etc are detrimental to spiritual evolution.
– The body represents only one form of your existence
– Selfless service is a responsibility of an initiate
– Be steadfast and determined despites ups and downs of progress.
– Success is glorious and practice brings success.
– Don’t let “ I have thought too much to stoop to action” be your motto.
– Chanting elevates teachings in your mind and chants should be memorized.
– Deviation from prescribed standards must be approved to ensure teachings are
consistent in every aspect.
– Feed yourself physically ( Kemetic Diet),
mentally ( teachings and meditation ) and spiritually ( chanting ).
– Be knowledgeable so you can serve as an informed ambassador when questioned.
Points Regarding the Initiatic Process
– Ideally meditation should be ½ to 1 hour long at least.
– Continue striving with patience and discipline
– Manage yourself so you can understand your capability
– It is a building process which gathers momentum as time passes
– Daily discipline is an important component
– Exercise is a prelude to meditation
– A daily ritual with shower, postures and meditation is integral to process.
– Gaining control over the mind is a gradual process
– Wisdom teachings provide insights that help your development
– Find words and chants that resonate with you
– Employ a kind of actionless actor state of mind in your day to day living
by allowing the divine to flow through you
– Reflect deeply on Wisdom Teachings
– See yourself in others as all are different aspects of the divine self.
What are you doing to advance your practice?
Working with meditation and the wisdom teachings in day to day life.
What are you trying to do that you are not currently doing?
Establish consistency in practice and balance external demands with progress objectives.
Dua,
HTP
