Video Lecture Part 4: Sebai Maa
Sebai Maa makes the point that when we act like the Gods and Goddesses we are acting in our higher nature. This allows us to purify our ari, thereby keeping our “emotional glass,” so to speak, clean as opposed to opaque from feelings like anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. One way it is achieved is through Tjef Neteru Sema Paut (Movement of the
Gods and Goddesses). By holding these postures one can connect to the Cosmic Divinity at its Divine source.
The Tjef Neteru system progresses in phases which includes the Creation phase, the Earth phase, the Transitional phase, the Heavenly phase and the Establishment phase. In fact the Sema postures, recorded as far back as 1300 B.C., are a re-creation of the original Creation. Postures such as the Khepri pose, Nefertem posture, Nu and Shu postures form the act of Creation coming into being, while the Journey of Ra postures sustain Creation. The Geb plow pose and spinal twist, as well as the wheel, Fish pose, Selket pose, Sobek and Cobra poses all represent the Earth phase. Moving into the Transitional phase is the Hor em Akhet and Heru poses, followed by the Nut, Maat and Aset Heavenly phase, which prefaces the Asar Djed Pillar Establishment phase. Finally, we are brought back full circle with the head stand, followed by the Khepri Beetle pose, and the Mummy pose.
The carefully balanced Yogic posture system was also reflected in the Kemetic Temple complexes as explained by Sebai Maa. For example, the Temple of Aset reflected the Wisdom system of listening (sedjem), reflecting (maui) and meditation (uaa). Plutarch describes, in his writings, the disciplines of the Temple of Aset devotees as, among many things, eating no meat or drinking alcohol. The Serpent Power system is reflected in the Temple of Asar in Abdu, as well as the Temple of Hor em Akhet. Likewise the Meditation system is also reflected in the Seti Uaa Temple of Asar in the Glorious Light Meditation, and can also be sourced in the Prt em Heru “Nuk pu” (“I am”) Meditations. The Righteous Action system was reflected in all of the Temples in the form of offering Maat by the Pharaoh. The Devotion system was also reflected in each of the Temples, “leading to constant movement of the mind and heart” as explained by Sebai Maa.
The mastery of these systems allows one to control the cosmos instead of being controlled, and also allows one to experience the Witnessing Self (Amun) behind the mind–“the One Watcher who never sleeps.” Sebai explains that from Amun comes the Universal sound “Aum” (the hidden aspect of Creation). The purpose in understanding Kemetic philosophy and practicing the Sheti Disciplines, of course, is to cleanse the residue of left over impressions due to negative ari (actions). Sebai Maa explains that there are two kinds of reincarnations: One is to go to the West and reside with Asar and the other is to go to the East and be reborn. According to Kemetic Philosophy it is undesirable to be reborn in the East, therefore purification of the personality is critical for the spiritual aspirant.
Following Maat philosophy in the Pert em Heru text, as well as the 42 Precepts of Maat purifies the heart for Kemetic Judgment. It is explained that each of the Divinities acting in judgment is, in fact, aspects of the individual self. Therefore we judge ourselves before Asar, and must make an offering of our opposites to be One with the Divine.
Upon reflection of this most inspired lecture, I got a renewed sense of the teachings, particularly post Kemetic Pilgrimage as opposed to listening to the lecture pre-Kemetic Pilgrimage. When it comes to the practice of Tjef Neteru Sema Paut, somehow the teachings in the lecture, combined with the actual experience of being in the Temple of Dendara (depicting the postures on the ceiling of Nut and Geb) brought an instant recall of that moment in the Temple when I realized that I was viewing an ancient tutorial of Tjef Neteru Sema Paut. The result has been a transformation in my personal practice of Tjef Neteru since the Pilgrimage.
In listening to and reflecting upon the lecture, I realize that the various phases in Sema Tawi postures mirror the life cylce of birth, sustaining and dissolution. The goal of the aspirant is not to keep repeating the cycle, resulting in numerous uhem ankh (reincarnations), but rather to achieve Nehast (Enlightenment) in this very lifetime. As I reflect further on this I see how the progression of phases in Tjef Neteru Sema Paut also mirrors the spiritual journey of the aspirant. It begins with birth into the teachings where the initiate must crawl on the Earth before they can soar into the Heavens and be seated on the throne of Aset to become established in Asar. There is no bypassing this order for it is through Geb that we connect to Nut…or not. This is the Cosmic order.
I fully appreciate the authentic interpretation of the Kemetic Philosophy presented in this lecture which illuminated the various systems of Wisdom, Serpent Power, Meditation, Righteous Action and Devotion, their connection to the Temples of Kemet, and how it leads to constant movement of the mind and heart. It is my understanding that this is what leads to the Witnessing Conscious, Amun. The questions that I would pose to gain greater clarity on this aspect are: Is the Witnessing Conscious a state of mind or a state of being? We have all experienced intuition to various degrees, is this the Witnessing Conscious or is it beyond intuition? Is it, in fact, Enlightenment? Finally, having experienced the Witness during moments of Meditation, how does one maintain that level of detachment outside of formal Meditation without stumbling in the world of time and space?
If we are to act as our own judges in witness to our actions, it then becomes paramount to become intimately familiar with the One Watcher who never sleeps.
Htp
