CLERGY CLASS ASSNGMNT. REPORT FOR FEB. 5 TH 2023
Pages 88 – 96
Egyptian Mysteries Vol.3 by Dr. Muata Ashby
Udja, the assigned pages carries within them these subtitles:
*Introduction to Egyptian Yoga.
*What is Yoga?
*So what is Egyptian Yoga?
*The term Yoga and the Philosophy Behind It.
*The Ancient Egyptian Symbols of Yoga.
*Choosing a Sema Spiritual Discipline as Support for the Spiritual Tradition and Culture.
In present day culture, even in the so-called woke culture, the popular sentiment would be of the origins
of Yoga, is that it hails from the East, meaning India and its environs. However, due to blinding evidence
as for example presented here and in other writings by Dr. Ashby(and other scholars), shows
unambiguously that the origins of Yoga had its earliest presence in the land of Kem. These evidences
are to be found in the temples inscriptions, steles, obelisks, among other sources.
The terminology for the word “Yoga” comes out of Indian Sanskrit, meaning to unite, to yoke. Uniting
the individual to the cosmos. The specific definition of Yoga as prescribed is “The practice of mental,
physical and spiritual disciplines which lead to self-control and self-discovery, by purifying the mind,
body and spirit, so as to discover, the deeper spiritual essence, which lies within every human being
and object in the universe”. And the goal is to unite ones individual consciousness with that of the
Divine, Cosmic Consciousness. Yoga has as its equivalence, the Kemetic term Smai Tawi which also
means to unite, to bring together.
The term Smai Tawi is analogous to the main Asarian myth, that of Asar, Aset and Heru. Where the
uniting of the “two lands” of Upper and Lower Egypt infers the uniting of the ‘higher’ (Heru) and ‘lower’
(Set) nature of the personality, hence the collegiate nature of the terms ‘yoga’ and ‘smai tawi’
The word “religion”, has as its etymological origins the Latin term “religare”, and also means to unite, to
bind. Assuredly, religion in its purest expression of Myth, Ritual and Mysticism can be reflected in the
Yogic Disciplines.
In Sebai’s illustration of the relationship between the Yogic Disciplines and the Mystical Religious Path,
the illustration shows where an aspirant on both paths begins with aspiration. The Mystical Religious
Path leads the aspirant through the process of Myth, Ritual and Mysticism. The aptitudes of Devotion,
Action, Meditation and Wisdom are duly aligned and applied with the religious procedure of the
teachings as its disseminated through Myth, receiving the Knowledge, Ritual, applying (action)
knowledge received and Mysticism, becoming one with what you pursue (Mystical experience). Also
inherent in this process is the three stages of the development of the aspirant, that of Aspiring, Thriving
and becoming Established.
The aspirant utilizing the Yogic Path, has as its main paths the Path of Devotion (Uashu); Path of
Meditaion (Uaa); Path of Wisdom (Rekh); Path of Self-less action and Tantrism (ari Maat). One may be
drawn to one or more of these disciplines, as they are meant to align with the personality. However,
over time ,all of these paths should ultimately be practiced integrally. When done as prescribed, these
disciplines leads to the same goal as one following the Mystical Religious Path…Enlightenment! What is
of note, is that these paths are oft, if not most times interwoven and eventually results in the same
ideological experiences.
The Ancient Egyptian symbols for Sema(Yoga) is the trachea and the union of the lungs. It represents the
first ‘historical’ record evincing Sema Philosophy. The four words that represent Yoga in Kemetic
Philosophy are 1) Ankh; 2) Sema; 3) Nefer; 4) Hetep. When the yogic disciplines are understood and
applied, utilizing the understanding of uniting the two lands of differentiation, bringing subtlety and
awareness to the breath (Nfr) . Overtime and with effort , the life process (Ankh)is cancelled out which
leads to an appeasement (Htp) and the Beautiful Peace emerges.
A priest or priestess should practice all the disciplines, whereas one or more may be favorable for ones
expression. A tradition should also be chosen. In closing with a proverb from the given text:
“Salvation is accomplished through the efforts of the individual, there is no mediator between man
and his/her Salvation”. AEP.
Appreciated this exercise!
Htp.
Dua Sebai Maa, Sba Dja, Hmu!
Setna Nebi Ra
