LESSON 14
Level 1 – Lesson 14– Video Assignment – Intro to Shetaut Neter 104-105 Part 1 and 2
1. List the important themes presented
Shetaut Neter –
A. Shetaut Neter is the original Ancient African term for Egyptian Mysteries practiced in Ancient Kemet (Egypt) by Kamitans over 12,000 years ago. Shetaut Neter is the origin of African and all world Religion. Shetaut Neter is not only an Indigenous African Religion but it is the first recorded religion ever practiced in human history, evidenced by the Great Sphinx 10,000 B.C.E. (real name is Herumakhet or Ra-Hrakti- Heru in the horizon) and the pyramid text which is the oldest spiritual text in the world. Therefore Shetaut Neter cannot be categorized by modern definition of religion, it is not a church, cult or new age religion etc.
B. The meaning of Shetaut Neter came from the writings of Ancient Africa, the Medu Neter. Shetaut means ‘secret’ and Neter means ‘divinity’. Shetaut Neter is the teaching about the secret hidden Supreme Being. Neterianism, which relates to the Neter, is derivied from Shetaut Neter and a Neterian is a follower of the religion of Shetaut Neter and are specifically called Shemsu.
C. Traditions of Shetaut Neter – There are 6 traditions of Shetaut Neter that all derive from the Anunion theology. They are one spiritual tradition that relate different aspect of the spiritual disciplines and teachings: – 1. Shetaut Anu – teachings of the Ra Tradition 2. Shetaut Menefer – teachings of the Ptah Tradition 3. Shetaut Waset – teachings of the Amun Tradition 4. Shetaut Netrit – teachings of the Goddess tradition 5. Sheataut Asar – teachings of the Asar Tradition 6. Shataut Aton – teachings of the Aton tradition. The three main tradidions from the 6 are Shetaut Anu, Shetaut Menefer and Shetaut Waset – which encompasses the Great Trinity Amun – Ra – Ptah. There is also the Asarian tradition, Asar, Aset, Heru. This tradition is the one that modern religion such as Christianity is modeled from.
D. Paut Neteru – Family Tree of Gods and Goddesses – The Gods and Goddesses called Neteru that are represented in the traditions of Shetaut Neter are divinities that all emanate from the One Supreme Being. The Gods and Goddesses represents principles in nature, actual cosmic forces so the entire manifestation of creation is divinize and represented by the Gods and Goddesses. They are what we see, feel etc. They are propitiated to lead us to the higher Supreme Being, the hidden, what cannot be seen with the senses but can only be experienced. Shetaut Neter, Neterianism is a monotheistic religion, in that there is only One Supreme Being that manifest in creation as the form of Gods and Goddesses.
E. Sacred Scriptures of Shetaut Neter – three kind of scriptures (mythic, mystical and wisdom text) and genre of harper songs
F. The Neterian Temple – This is the house of the divinity being worshiped/the house of life. There are three areas of the temple representing esoteric (inner) teachings; the peristyle court/hall, the hypostyle hall and the holy of holies. The three areas of the temple is a direct reflection of three different levels of aspiration (mortals/aspiration, intelligence/striving and the creative beings of light/established), the three levels of religion (myth, ritual and mysticism) the three levels of mind (unconscious, subconscious and conscious) the three levels of relative consciousness (waking, dream and sleep) the three levels of action (deeds, words and thoughts) and the Great Trinity (Amun, Ra, Ptah). The outside of the temple represents the exoteric (outer) teachings where ordinary people (Rekhyt) come to worship and give their offerings. The first area inside the temple is the peristyle hall/court. To go into this part of the court, you go through two pylons which symbolizes duality. This level means you want to aspire to go to certain level of the teaching, you desire oneness. The other two sections of the temple is reserved for higher teachings.
G. Ma uaa n Shetaut Neter – The Four Great Truths of Shetaut Neter encapsulate the entire teachings of Shetaut Neter. They are the key and the formula for understanding the entire philosophy, however information with no action equals ignorance, so to reach enlightenment the philosophy must me understood and disciplines practiced.
Truth #1 – “Pa Neter ua ua Neberdjer m Neteru” – The Neter, the Supreme Being is one and alone, and as Neberdjer manifesting in all things in the form of Gods and Goddesses. 1st Key – One Supreme Being manifesting as everything.
Neberdjer – Is the All-encompassing Divinity associated with Khepri (the first aspect of Ra) the creator, who created himself.
Truth #2 – “An-Maat swy Saui Set s-Khemn” – Lack of righteousness brings fetters to the personality and these fetters lead to ignorance of the Divine. (The greatest of all unrighteousness is the unrighteousness of ignorance, it leads to untruth, misunderstanding about the nature of the Divine, which is the first fall in humanity)
Truth #3 – “S-Uashu, s-Nafu n saiu Set” – Devotion to the Divine leads to freedom from the fetters of Set. Fetters causes you to be conscious of your ego, yourself as an individual, devotion leads to freedom from your own egoism opening the heart to something bigger, greater, the ALL.
Truth #4 – “ari Shedy Rekh ab m Maakheru” – Practice of the shedy disciplines lead to knowing oneself and the Divine. Practicing the spiritual disciplines leads to opening of the mouth, awakening of the spirit, Nehast.
In Shetaut Neter there is no concept of evil, there is creation and destruction. Shetaut Neter teachings can be approached as a philosophy or a religion.
Religion – This is the most powerful force that drives culture and culture represents what human beings care about. There are two types of culture, a culture of degradation (ignorance) or a culture of civilization (wisdom). So if a human being wants to be free they have to identify with a culture of wisdom and in following the culture also follow the philosophy/religion that they practiced. The purpose of religion is for people to be lead to enlightenment through the three steps of authentic religion, myth, ritual and mysticism. Therefore, In order to reclaim or practice ancient African culture, one must turn to ancient African Religion. This is so because in order to be successful in liberating oneself, enlightened “… the legacy of the Ancestors must be lived and not just studied and revered.” It is important to note that it has been documented that Shetaut Neter is not only the source and origin of African religion but also all world Religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba etc.
The pursuit of happiness – One pursues/desires what they think will make them happy, fulfilled. However one can never be fulfilled by things, people, events etc. of the world since there are constant changes, nothing is permanent so there is no abiding happiness in the world. This permanent fulfillment that one is seeking is found in Knowledge of Self. Therefore “Searching for oneself in the world is a pursuit of an illusion.” Ancient Egyptian Proverb
What is the purpose of life – Another Ancient Egyptian Proverb “The purpose of all human life is to achieve a state of consciousness apart from bodily concerns.” And The Harper’s Song, which is an Ancient Egyptian genre of literature on the meaning and purpose of life teaches that we cannot linger on earth so we must plan for our departure to the west. It teaches that our acts on earth is like a dream. Comparing life on earth to a dream – usually in a dream there is no conscious awareness of the existence of the physical realm, it is not a reality, the reality while in a dream is that the dream is real- but when we wake up the dream is dismissed as real, so what is reality? just as we wake up in the morning and realize that the dream is not true reality, we must also wake up from the dream that life on earth is also true reality, so in essence we need to be consciously aware that there is a reality beyond the changing reality that exists in time and space. This is the state of consciousness that one should pursue, what is true and abiding and the purpose of life. This is achieved through following the disciplines and philosophy of the teachings of Sheter Neter.
The Philosophy of the After Life – Tomb or Coffin is dedicated to rebirth because we are not the body – the body is just for the physical experience, we are immortal, transcendental and all encompassing. To know this is the Great Awakening to Spiritual consciousness, Nehast. All Neterian disciplines is geared toward this discover, the meaning of “who am I?” Knowing the ways of the Neteru and emanating them, becoming Akhu, an enlightened being.
2. Explain what impressed you most about this presentation
What impressed me most about the presentation was The Four Great Truths. It amazes me and also humbles me to think of the extent that our ancestors went to preserve such a glorious legacy on the purpose and meaning of life and that the main tenets of it all is found in The Four Great Truths.
Htp
