Lesson 6: Fundamental Principles of African Religion, Video 1
The fundamental principle of African religion is; God and Universe are one.
African religion entails storytelling, ritual, and ecstasy through the experience
of transcendence. The practice of Smai Tawi or Yoga, which means to unite, through
listening, reflection, and meditation which is the science of making mystical
experiences happen, transcendence occurs.
To understand myth one must know that myth is not just for the ancients, myth is
written in the form of imagery, we must incorporate myth into our human living
experience, myth is not just for entertainment, and myth entails transcendental
principles. The different types of myths are; creation, heroic, moral teaching or
virtues, parables, or proverbs. Common myth principles are; supreme beings,
lesser beings, human imperfection, purification via rituals, and the discovery of
God.
The practice of religion needs to have three components which are; myth, ritual,
and mysticism. Without the component of mysticism, meaning when the human being
transcends the mortal experience, the human being will not be able to experience
the divine which is the ultimate goal of religion. Religion is important because
each and every human being’s experience of existence is affected by religion.
Western philosophy, language, and religion are rooted in rhetoric. In contrast,
Kemetic spirituality and language are much more to the point and avoid confusion.
The human being exists in order to express divinity. Likewise, humans can be the
lowest expression of divinity due to the desire and practice of aligning with
confusion.
Video 2
Aku means spirit or light. When in the practice of ritual, there are components
designed to assist in having a transcendental experience.
-Candles represent lighting the light within yourself
-Incense can be symbolic of your light, as the fragrance represents your personality
-Pouring libation means continual thought toward the divine
-Spoken offerings, chants, or hekau transforms the mind, and assist your manifestations
Hekau or words of power are offered 4 times consecutively.
All spiritual disciplines are designed for you to know yourself. Divinity
manifests as Gods and Goddesses or cosmic forces that are ultimately an intricate
part of ourselves.
