BEING POSTED ON BEHALF OF UNUT UN SHEN
Clergy Book Report Assignment
Reply to Post #21897 Pages 78 – 87
Un Shen
Priest and Priestesses maintained the Temple traditions and spiritual teachings established by the Kemetic Sages for the designated divinity of each city in Kemet. Resultingly, order was sustained in society, which promoted well-being of the people. The teachings are expressed through various theological traditions that linked scriptures, which cater to varying temperaments of people from different regions. Hence, teachings of any Temple lead aspirants to spiritual Enlightenment.
The Supreme Being represented by the winged all-encompassing transcendental Divinity was referred to as Heru throughout early Kemetic history. Of note, Heru relates to the male aspect of the androgynous Spirit. However, the androgyny of Heru is reflected in the solar principle, which is present in both Gods and Goddesses, as the Neteru are emanations of the Supreme Being.
The main spiritual systems of Neterianism are Anunian Theology, Het-Ka-Ptah/Menefer (Memphite) Theology and Wasetian/Theban Theology. Anunian Theology focuses on the Supreme Being in the form of Ra and teachings about Creation, origins of people and the path of spiritual Enlightenment. Ra arose from the primordial ocean and his children (Shu, Tefnut, Nut, Geb, Aset, Asar, Set, Nebthet, and Heru-Ur) are the Neteru of Creation. In Memphite Theology, the teachings elucidate the Supreme Being in the form of Ptah, Sekhmit and Nefertem. Correspondingly, Ptah arose from the primeval ocean and willed the universe into existence through the power of thought giving rise to Creation, human origins, and the path of spiritual Enlightenment. In Theban Theology, the teachings espouse that the universe is managed through the Trinity of Amun, Mut and Khonsu. These teachings also promote Creation, human origins, and the path of spiritual Enlightenment via the Supreme Being in the form of Amun (Amun-Ra).
Additional traditions of Kemet are (1) the Goddess Tradition; Supreme Being in the form of the Goddess, (2) the Asarian Tradition; Supreme Being as Asar and (3) the Aton tradition; Supreme Being as Aton. In the Goddess tradition, Aset, Net, Sekhmit, Mut, Hetheru and Mehurt (“The Mighty Full One”) are exalted. Moreover, the Goddess is recognized as the author of Creation who birthed it as a great Cow. Temples created for Goddesses include Aset (at Philae; Upper Egypt), Net (at Sais; Lower Egypt), and Hetheru (at Dendera; central Egypt). In the Asarian tradition, Asar, Aset and Heru manage the Universe and guide humans to spiritual Enlightenment and “resurrection of the soul.” Lastly, the Aton tradition recognizes the Aton as the sustainer of creation and substratum of existence. Humans are led to spiritual Enlightenment and eternal life of the soul through the Aton. Sage Akhenaton was a prime adherent of Atonism and was frequently depicted with his family in adorations of the Aton, which is symbolized by the sun disk.
Scriptures from the various theologies delineated above have led to fifteen General Principles of Shetaut Neter. These principles include life’s purpose (Nehast, Enlightenment), spiritual investigation (via Shedy), self-responsibility, selfless service, protection of oppressed, caring for others, human equality, and the promotion of peace and balance in society.
Dua hna Htp Sebai Maa, Seba Dja, and Hemu.
