42 Principles of Ma'at

[Akyeame Kwame]

Rediscover Ancient Egypt
with Tehuti Research Foundation

Last Updated: 13-Sep-2004

Egyptians: The Most Religious



Cosmic Consciousness

The Greek historian Herodotus (500 BCE) stated:

Of all the nations of the world, the Egyptians are the happiest, healthiest and most religious.

The excellent condition of the Egyptians was attributed to their application of metaphysical realities in their daily life— in other words— total cosmic consciousness. As above, so below, and as below, so above.

The scenes of daily activities, found inside Egyptian tombs, show a strong perpetual correlation between the earth and heavens. The scenes provide graphical representation of all manner of activities: hunting, fishing, agriculture, law courts, and all kinds of arts and crafts. Portraying these daily activities, in the presence of the neteru (gods) or with their assistance, signifies their cosmic correspondence.

Every action, no matter how mundane, was in some sense a cosmic correspondence act: plowing, sowing, reaping, brewing, the sizing of a beer mug, building ships, waging wars, playing games—all were viewed as earthly symbols for divine activities.

In Egypt, what we now call religion, was so widely acknowledged that it did not even need a name. For them, there was no perceived difference between sacred and mundane. All their knowledge that was based on cosmic consciousness was embedded into their daily practices, which became traditions.



In the Beginning

Every Egyptian creation text begins with the same basic belief that before the beginning of things, there was a liquidy primeval abyss—everywhere, endless, and without boundaries or directions. Egyptians called this cosmic ocean/watery chaos, Nu/Ny/Nun—the unpolarized state of matter.

Scientists agree with the Ancient Egyptian description of the origin of the universe as being an abyss. Scientists refer to this abyss as neutron soup, where there are neither electrons nor protons, and only neutrons forming one huge extremely dense nucleus. Such chaos, in the pre-creation state, was caused by the compression of matter, i.e. atoms did not exist in their normal states, but were squeezed so closely together, that many atomic nuclei were crowded into a space previously occupied by a single normal atom. Under such conditions, the electrons of these atoms were squeezed out of their orbits and move about freely (a degenerate state).

For the deeply religious people of Egypt, the creation of the universe was not a physical event (Big Bang) that just happened. It was an orderly event that was pre-planned and executed according to an orderly Divine Law that governs the physical and metaphysical worlds.

Egyptian creation texts repeatedly stress the belief of creation by the Word. When nothing existed except the One, he created the universe with his commanding voice. The Egyptian Book of the Coming Forth by Light (wrongly and commonly translated as the Book of the Dead), the oldest written text in the world, states:

I am the Eternal ... I am that which created the Word ... I am the Word ...

In Ancient Egypt, the words of Ra, revealed through Tehuti (equivalent to Hermes or Mercury), became the things and creatures of this world, i.e. the words (meaning sound waves) created the forms in the universe.

We find that in the Book of the Divine Cow (found in the shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amen), Ra creates the heavens and its hosts merely by pronouncing some words whose sound alone evokes the names of things—and these things then appear at his bidding. As its name is pronounced, so the thing comes into being. For the name is a reality, the thing itself. In other words, each particular sound has/is its corresponding form.


Our Purpose on Earth

According to the Egyptian philosophy, man is born mortal but contains within himself the seed of the divine. His purpose in this life is to nourish that seed, and his reward, if successful, is eternal life, where he will reunite with his divine origin.

The essence of the Egyptian metaphysical beliefs is that man is created to accomplish a specific role, within the grand cosmic scheme. According to Egyptian traditions, one cannot succeed in earthly life merely by default. One must use his metaphysical faculty (mind symbolized by the heart) and his physical faculty (action symbolized by the tongue). These actions will be in agreement or at variance with natural harmony. If during his/her earthly life, the actions are not harmonious with nature, s/he will reincarnate again to the earthly realm, to try another time.

At the end of one’s earthly existence, a performance evaluation will determine his/her fate.


Performance Evaluation

In a book of instructions, an Egyptian King advised his son, the prince, to attain the highest qualities, because upon his death, he would see his whole lifetime in a single instant, and his performance on earth would be reviewed and evaluated by the judges. Even as far back as the period of the 6th Dynasty [4300 years ago], we find the idea that heaven was reserved for those who had performed their duty to man and to the Divine Powers while on earth. No exceptions were made to a King or anyone else.

For example, the Pharaoh Unas (2323 BCE), before he was ready to fly from earth into heaven, was not allowed to start unless the neteru (who were about to help him) were satisfied as to the reality of his moral worth. They demanded that no man should have uttered a word against him on earth, and that no complaint should have been made against him in heaven before the neteru (gods). Accordingly, in the text of Unas we read:

Unas hath not been spoken against on earth before men, he hath not been accused of sin in heaven before the neteru (gods).

As stated earlier, Ancient Egyptians expressed their metaphysical beliefs in a story form, like a sacred drama or a mystery play. The following are the Egyptians’ symbolic representations of the process of the Judgment Day Mystery Play.

1. The soul of the deceased is led to the Hall of Judgment of the Double-Ma-at. She is double because the scale balances only when there is an equality of opposing forces. Ma-at’s symbol is the ostrich feather, representing judgment or truth. Her feather is customarily mounted on the scales.

2. Anbu (Anubis), as opener of the way, guides the deceased to the scales and weighs the heart.

The heart, as a metaphor for conscience, is weighed against the feather of truth, to determine the fate of the deceased.

3. The seated Grand Ancestor—Ausar (Osiris)—presides in the Hall of Justice. The jury consists of 42 judges/assessors. Each judge has a specific jurisdiction over a specific sin or fault; each wears a feather of truth on his/her head.

4. The spirit of the deceased denies committing each sin/fault before its assigned judge, by reciting the 42 Negative Confessions. These Negative Confessions come from Chapter CXXV of The Book of the Coming Forth by Light (commonly known as The Book of the Dead).

The assigned juror/judge will declare his/her acceptance by declaring Maa-Kheru (True of Voice/Action).

Here is a translation of the 42 Negative Confessions. Some of them may seem repetitive, but this is caused by the inability to translate the exact intent and meaning of the original language.


1. I have not done iniquity.
2. I have not robbed with violence.
3. I have not stolen.
4. I have done no murder; I have done no harm.
5. I have not defrauded offerings.
6. I have not diminished obligations.
7. I have not plundered the neteru.
8. I have not spoken lies.
9. I have not uttered evil words.
10. I have not caused pain.
11. I have not committed fornication.
12. I have not caused shedding of tears.
13. I have not dealt deceitfully.
14. I have not transgressed.
15. I have not acted guilefully.
16. I have not laid waste the ploughed land.
17. I have not been an eavesdropper.
18. I have not set my lips in motion (against any man).
19. I have not been angry and wrathful except for a just cause.
20. I have not defiled the wife of any man.
21. I have not been a man of anger.
22. I have not polluted myself.
23. I have not caused terror.
24. I have not burned with rage.
25. I have not stopped my ears against the words of Right and Truth. (Ma-at)
26. I have not worked grief.
27. I have not acted with insolence.
28. I have not stirred up strife.
29. I have not judged hastily.
30. I have not sought for distinctions.
31. I have not multiplied words exceedingly.
32. I have not done neither harm nor ill.
33. I have not cursed the King. (i.e. violation of laws)
34. I have not fouled the water.
35. I have not spoken scornfully.
36. I have never cursed the neteru.
37. I have not stolen.
38. I have not defrauded the offerings of the neteru.
39. I have not plundered the offerings of the blessed dead.
40. I have not filched the food of the infant.
41. I have not sinned against the neter of my native town.
42. I have not slaughtered with evil intent the cattle of the neter.


5. Tehuti (Thoth), scribe of the neteru (gods), records the verdict, as Anbu (Anubis) weighs the heart against the feather of truth. The outcome is either:
* If the pans are not balanced, this means that this person lived simply as matter. As a result, Amam (Ammit) would eat this heart. Amam is a protean crossbreed.
The unperfected soul will be reborn again (reincarnated) in a new physical vehicle (body), in order to provide the soul an opportunity for further development on earth. This cycle of life/death/renewal continues until the soul is perfected, by fulfilling the 42 Negative Confessions, during his life on earth.
* If the two pans are perfectly balanced, Ausar gives favorable judgment, and gives his final Maa-Kheru (True of Voice).
The perfected soul will go through the process of transformation and the subsequent rebirth. The outcome of his/her evaluation will determine which heavenly level (2-6) a person reaches.

[Warrior Princess]

Nice post, Akyeame Kwame.

Do you link the 10 commandments to the 42 negative confessions?

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Warrior Princess

Nice post, Akyeame Kwame.

Do you link the 10 commandments to the 42 negative confessions?

not personally, but i know others who do. i've never actually heard/read the ten commandments, but i heard a couple of them and got the gist. most folk say that the 10 were extracted from the 42 as the bare minimum that krakkkaz thought they could deal with.

AK

[Warrior Princess]

Originally Posted by Akyeame Kwame

most folk say that the 10 were extracted from the 42 as the bare minimum that krakkkaz thought they could deal with.

AK

Tru... It is quite interesting how there would only be 10 from at least 42. Anything passing from the hand or mouth of (wo/)man is susceptible to editing/misinterpretation/bigotry/corruption etc. For this simple fact alone, I refuse to call/consider anyone's (including my own) opinions/accounts/"facts" absolute TRUTH.

not personally, but i know others who do. i've never actually heard/read the ten commandments, but i heard a couple of them and got the gist.

Well I am going to post them and if you want to read them/compare them, they'll be here. And you know that, as with all things, there are so many different versions of this, but to just keep it simple right now, here they (in less words) go:
The Ten Commandments
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain.
3. Thou shalt sanctify the holy day.
4. Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother that it may be well
with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy
neighbor's.

[Akyeame Kwame]

although i appreciate the spirit of your wanting to inform me, i have to stop telling folk i don't know about xtianity...whenever i do people invariably smear some of it on me.

AK

[Little95]

Bump^^^^^^^^^ To Tha Heavens^^^^^^^^^^

[Warrior Princess]

Originally Posted by Akyeame Kwame

although i appreciate the spirit of your wanting to inform me, i have to stop telling folk i don't know about xtianity...whenever i do people invariably smear some of it on me.

AK

lol Perhaps if I were a Christian AND/or if I took anyone's mere perceptions too much to heart I would be offended. Neither is the case with me.

With this said, if you perceive my personal interest in comparing/analyzing teachings/materials as trying to smear some Christianity on you, then that is how you perceive my personal interest in comparising/analyzing teachings and materials. However, it is possible that you missed it when I posted:

Well I am going to post them and if you want to read them/compare them, they'll be here.

[RecoveringAA]

Greetings of Afreekan Love Family,

I am Joanie, a Re~covering Afreekan amerikkkan and Re~presentative from the Voices in the Margins.

AK,
HOw DO WE reconcile this:

The Greek historian Herodotus

with all else that is presented?

Akpe for allowing me to share

[Warrior Princess]

Originally Posted by RecoveringAA

Greetings of Afreekan Love Family,

I am Joanie, a Re~covering Afreekan amerikkkan and Re~presentative from the Voices in the Margins.

AK,
HOw DO WE reconcile this:




with all else that is presented?

Akpe for allowing me to share

Ironically enough, I was just thinking about Herodotus TODAY and how so many Afrocentricists quote him or works based on HIS findings, whether they know it or not. Not to say that it is a "bad" thing, but I simply wonder if many who are doing this are aware of it and if they find any contradictions in any of this.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Warrior Princess

lol Perhaps if I were a Christian AND/or if I took anyone's mere perceptions too much to heart I would be offended. Neither is the case with me.

With this said, if you perceive my personal interest in comparing/analyzing teachings/materials as trying to smear some Christianity on you, then that is how you perceive my personal interest in comparising/analyzing teachings and materials. However, it is possible that you missed it when I posted:

i'm glad u didn't...i appreciate yr posting it...i just try to avoid it...always have...i remember growing up as a kid i never wanted to touch a bible cuz i thot it would make you irreversibly stupid...just a holdover from that...i don't want to get infected anymore than i already have been just by living in this cesspool. stay BlackNificent!!!

AK

[Guerilla Black]

Great post. Any more information on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

One sister told me that the word math is derived from Ma'at. Has anyone heard of this?

[RecoveringAA]

Originally Posted by Warrior Princess

Ironically enough, I was just thinking about Herodotus TODAY and how so many Afrocentricists quote him or works based on HIS findings, whether they know it or not. Not to say that it is a "bad" thing, but I simply wonder if many who are doing this are aware of it and if they find any contradictions in any of this.

Got my answer here:

"The term Greek philosophy, to begin with is a misnomer, for there is no such philosophy in existence."

George G.M. James
Stolen Legacy


What you think??

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Guerilla Black

Great post. Any more information on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

One sister told me that the word math is derived from Ma'at. Has anyone heard of this?

here is a cursory google search...might wanna do more research of your own on this...also ck. Anthony Browder's Nile Valley Contributions to World Civilization: Exploding the Myths...of course from a Black bookstore. stay BlackCellent!!!

AK

http://www.resurrectisis.org/F1WebPage.htm

The Goddess Maat was the goddess of truth and justice.

Maat was Thoth's wife. She was the goddess of truth and justice. Maat's name is the Egyptian word for truth. Maat's name is the name of the truth feather. Maat's law was "the law that has never been broken." Math is the law that has never been broken. Our word math is derived from Maat's name.



Maat, the goddess of truth and justice, along with her position atop the scales of judgment, is surely the original motif for the Roman "Lady of Justice" and through stages of evolution, Maat is the ancestress of American "Liberty."

[Guerilla Black]

I did research, perhaps you are better at Google than I am! I can never find what i'm looking for. Ma'at was spelled differently in some of the hieroglyphics texts i have and have studied. When i looked up the prounciation of these words none of them carried the "f" sound, all of them said the symbol represented a "t" sound.

I'll look into it more.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Guerilla Black

I did research, perhaps you are better at Google than I am! I can never find what i'm looking for. Ma'at was spelled differently in some of the hieroglyphics texts i have and have studied. When i looked up the prounciation of these words none of them carried the "f" sound, all of them said the symbol represented a "t" sound.

I'll look into it more.

far as that goes, the sound change isn't too far fetched...the 't' sound in Ma'at is made with the tongue at the back of the teeth...the 'th' sound would just need for it to go between the teeth.

the 'f' in the place of the 'th' is a more recent thing...

AK