xviii
Preface
Egyptians held elevation of the soul to these experiences in the afterlife as the supreme accomplishment. But it soon became apparent that these writings were intended for the living as well, since many were found in the same form and style on the walls and chambers of the ancient temples. And within the literature itself are found explicit instructions to the living on reciting the spells and hymns, ob serving the sacred times, and performing the rites for attaining divine status while on Earth. The praxis that is herein presented fulfills that aim. It contains all the essential elements required to comprise an effective spiritual technology-objectives, doc trines, rituals, and organization-as expressed by the Egyptians themselves. The objectives are as real today as they were thousands of years ago-discov ering the origin of our existence and realizing the full dimensions of the soul and its workings. The doctrines for accomplishing this have been articulated in the cosmogonies of the ancient temples, and preserved in the legends of the gods and their divine acts. These ideas were articulated in themes of order, continuity, and harmony-for both the mundane and the spiritual worlds in which we exist. And while the rituals are preserved in monumental and literary form, it was the organization of the temple in ancient times that made all these elements co herent and living. We know much of their history and organization, but other forces replaced the temple as catalyst for our spiritual objectives over time-new theologies, philosophies, and governments. Despite this, the temple tradition evokes our highest aspirations and longings, as we recall the beauty and dignity of the ancient ceremonies every time Egypt is contemplated. One might ask why the apparent remnants of an ancient religion should be of value to anyone today. Does the symbolism and world view of a past civilization have any relevance to a person living in modern times? The answers to these objections are quite obvious. Although today we have tremendous success in the material sphere, the acquisition of spiritual wisdom is not a striving deemed important. The result is that one's personal power-the type that provides true dignity and self-mastery to an individual-is not really understood in context with the powers in nature and the universe. This, com bined with the spiritually sterile atmosphere of the modern age and the unrealis tic demands on our time and attention, has created a genuine yearning in many of us for the serenity reflected by the past. And so it is no wonder that many in-
�
�
,j
'
�
� -1 �l
'� � '', 1 '� ,
1
l
l
� 1
�� 1'1 1 '�
l
l
1
