EM1 Level 1 Lesson 7
Workbook Questions & Answer pages 69-90
1. What teaching(s) of the Neterian Creed do you believe in currently, are working on believing, and find hard to believe? Why?
There is one Supreme Being, and that Supreme Being is the same in other religions under different names. Biblical history states that the names like Yahweh, Hashem, and Allah are what some religious organizations use to call on the Supreme Being. For instance, I have a close friend who is a Jehovah’s Witness, and she has told me many times that Jehovah is the only name anyone should ever use. However, Jews considered it blasphemy to say the name aloud, so they say Adoni for Lord, and the Catholics say Father to show reverence. This has been a belief of mine since my early college days, especially after a discussion with my advisor, who invited me to church with her. I mentioned that I believe that God is the same for everyone; he just has different names. She told me, “No, that is false; there is only one name,” this led me on a journey to understand the power of the many names we have given to God.
I believe in ari, too; however, until now, I only knew it by its other name, karma. I never thought about the connection it has with determining whether your soul will reincarnate (Uhemankh) or your spirit becoming eternal. I always thought of karma as an ‘in this lifetime issue’ and not that it follows your soul. I once believed that we reincarnate if we repent for our sins, and we do not ever become one with God. In Christianity, it is believed that when the soul returns to earth, it is because God chose you to. According to the tale, God will clean up the earth for the people who repented, and they will live here happily ever after. My mother used to say that when we die, we go into a deep sleep until God comes to collect our souls, and then God will decide who gets to go to paradise and live an immortal life on earth. Or, unfortunately, those who do not repent will be destroyed or never allowed to wake up after death. As for becoming one in the spirit realm (heaven), only God’s chosen will do that. This is one of the reasons why I was always unsure about the Christian belief system. Because I always wondered what about those people who lived a despicable life and yet repented on their deathbeds to be let in on paradise. So, my question to all of my Pastors and Sunday school teachers is, what is the point of living a sin-free life, if I can get in on paradise at the last moment?
Years ago, I recognized that there was a definitive path to spiritual enlightenment; however, I was not sure what or where it was or how to obtain it. As I moved through my health and wellness journey, I discovered that eating healthy and being physically fit were gateways to being spiritually aware. I also found a yoga practice called the Sun Solution which became my daily routine with prayer. I understood that reading scriptures was important as well, but it always felt incomplete. Then I started getting mixed messages from the Christian brothers and sisters because some thought my meditation and yoga practices were invoking evil spirits. Also, when I talked about the concept of being one with God and not separate would result in passionate discussions about why I had to be wrong. Eventually, I had to leave the community to keep up with what I believed would help bring me closer to my spiritual enlightenment.
2. How should a spiritual aspirant think about the prospect of “becoming godlike” and their capacity to live a life of virtue and cultivation of spirit through knowledge, practice, and body discipline, and is this possible for everyone? If so, why so? If not, why not?
A spiritual aspirant should think of becoming godlike as an emotionally and mentally rewarding prospect. The Shetaut Neter disciplines were developed to promote human evolution toward spiritual enlightenment. Also, they should understand that the disciplines were designed to help all human beings identify and remove their desire for worldly distractions as well as improve their inability to control their emotions. I believe everyone can achieve spiritual enlightenment because we are all extensions of Creation. Therefore, if people decide to stop living based on egotistic fear, laziness, frustration, jealousy, and greed they too can attain spiritual enlightenment.
3. What kind of text is Papyrus of Any?
The Papyrus of Any is a mystical, ritual, philosophical literature sacred text of the Kamitian culture. Shetaut Neter is sacred scriptures divided into three categories: Mythic Scriptures, Mystical Philosophy, Ritual Scriptures, and Wisdom Scriptures.
4. The symbol of Neter is an Ankh.
False. The Neter symbol is translated to Natur, Nature, Nutriment, Natura, or Nuturalesa. Neter means power manifesting as Netaru, and the Neteru are the objects of (creation) nature. Also, the symbol was described by an ancient Kamitian priest, “That which is placed in the coffin.” It is a wooden staff wrapped with strips of fabric like a mummy. The term is derived from the Coptic language as Nutar, and the symbol means divine force or sustaining power.
5. What is the meaning of the term “Neteru?”
The term Neteru means gods and goddesses. The different gods and goddesses had Temples that were worshipped in the different cities. The Neterus are a family and are presented anthropomorphically or zoomorphically by the teaching about Neter that is being conveyed through them. All of the Neterus are emanations from the ultimate and Supreme Being.
6. The teaching from any temple leads to an understanding of the other Neterus, and these all lead back to the source, the Highest Divinity. The Divinities were interlocked, operating toward the same purpose. The teaching from any temple system would lead to the attainment of spiritual enlightenment, the Great Awakening.
7. There are three main traditions in Shetaut Neter. False, There is 6 Wisdom of Neterian traditions that a Shemsu Neter should listen to. All of the Temples espouse the teachings of Creation, human origins, and the path to spiritual enlightenment using the Supreme Being in the form of the gods. These are the myths of the gods and goddesses containing to help human begins understanding the basic knowledge of who they are, what they represent, and how they relate to human begins and to the Supreme Being.
a. Shetaut Anu – Teaching of the Ra Tradition
The mystery teachings of the Anunian Tradition are related to the Divinity Ra and his company of Gods and Goddesses. It tells of how the god Ra emerged from a primeval ocean and how human beings were created from his tears. The gods and goddesses, who are his children, go to form the elements of nature and the cosmic forces that maintain nature.
b. Shetau Menefer (Memphite) – Teachings of the Ptah Tradition
The mystery teaching of the Menefer Tradition is related to the Neterus: Ptah, Sekhmit, and Nefertem. This myth and philosophy constitute the god Ptah and his family, the Memphite Trinity Theology. It tells of how god Ptah emerged from the primeval ocean and how he created the universe by his will and the power of thought (mind). The gods and goddesses, who are his thoughts, go to form the elements of nature and the cosmic forces that maintain nature. His spouse, Sekhmit, has a powerful Temple system of her own that is related to the Memphite teaching, and the same is true for his son, Nefertem.
c. Shetaut Wasetian – Teachings of the Amun Tradition
The mystery teachings of the Wasetian Tradition are related to the Neterus: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. This myth and philosophy constitute the god Amun or Amun-Ra, and his family, the Trinity of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, manage the Universe along with his company of gods and goddesses. The Amun Temple became important in the early part of the New Kingdom Era. The hymns of Amun are an extremely important aspect of Shetaut Neter, on par with Pert m Hrt texts and other main texts of Shetaut Neter.
d. Shetaut Netrit – Teachings of the Goddesses Tradition
The mystery teachings of the Goddesses Tradition are related to the Divinity of the Goddess. The hieroglyphic sign Arat means Goddess, which was an integral part of the Neterian Traditions, and special Temples also developed around the worship of certain particular Goddesses who were also regarded as Supreme Beings in their own right. The Goddess, as well as the female gender, were respected and elevated just as the male divinities. The Goddess was also the author of Creation, giving birth to it as a great Cow. The most important Goddesses are Aset, Net, Sekhmit, Mut, and Hetheru.
e. Shetaut Asar – Teachings of the Asarian Tradition
The mystery teachings of the Asarian Tradition are related to the Neterus: Asar, Aset, and Heru. This tradition became important from the Pre-Dynastic era down to the Christian period. The temple of Asar is located in the ancient city of Abdu, and it was built by Seti I and his son Rameses II (1300 BCE). This temple tells of the god Asar and his family, The Trinity of Asar, Aset, and Heru, who manage the universe and lead human beings to spiritual enlightenment and the resurrection of the soul. The city of Pilak contained the Great Temple of Aset, and Edfu contained the Great Temple of Heru. Asar and Aset were sent to earth and made flesh by the Supreme Being to help humanity. Asar founded the religious practices, instituted the rituals, and he built the first temples where the Shetaut Neter teachings were practiced.
f. Shetaut Aton – Teachings of the Aton Tradition
The mystery teachings of Aton Tradition are related to the Neter Aton, and its main exponent was the Sage King Akhnaton. The Aton is an aspect of Khepri-Ra-Tem. It tells of how Aton, with its dynamic life force, created and sustained Creation. Aton was acknowledged as the bedrock of all existence which led human beings to engage in devotional exercises and rituals and the study of hymns containing the wisdom teachings of Aton, explaining that Aton manages the universe and led human beings to spiritual enlightenment and eternal life for the soul. The sundisk symbol of the god Aton is a form of the Supreme Being.
8. In what period did the Temple of Amun become important?
The Temple of Amun became important during the early part of the New Kingdom Era.
9. The goddess, as well as the female gender, were respected and elevated as male divinities in Kemetic religion.
True, Because special temples were developed around the worship of certain particular Goddesses who were also regarded as Supreme Being.
