Em hotep friends!

I recently started to read a copy of The 42 Purifications: Meditations on a translation of Chapter 125 of the Pert-em-Heru (Egyptian Book of the Dead. With some prompting by my Beloved Lord Djehuty, I though it would be an engaging practice to discuss each of these purifications with everyone, and see what each of out take is on it. Hearing other people's reasoning and thinking helps us become wiser in our own thought.

Every few days after the topic slows down a little I (or anyone who notices and has a copy of the 42) will post another purification for us to discuss, to get the topic started again.

Purification 1
Hail Strider, coming from Iunu (Heliopolis), I am not doing (making) isfet.

For me this purification is quite powerful. It means controlling my behavior so that I am not part of anything that is pulling ma'at out of balance. By doing isfet, I am working against ma'at and Netjer. By working with ma'at I am becoming the self-mastered. I do this by being a calm, controlled, modest, wise, gentle, and socially active person.

Hemet challenges us in this purification to not confuse a person's being with his or her behavior. The old concept of love the sinner and hate the sin applies here. I have struggled with this concept in the past. I have hated myself for my own behavior in the past and have not been very forgiving of myself. By not forgiving ourselves for our past mistakes and moving on, we create isfet.

I know in my life, I want to live in ma'at. Isfet will pop its serpent-shaped head in every once and a while and cause some strife. That is alright though, because it helps me to focus back again to ma'at. I will tell you that there are days when someone does something or says something to me, and I want to rip their head off an put them in their place. But by placing the concept of ma'at first, I hold my tongue and walk away. I feels this definitely shows character.

I hope this topic catches on and everyone participates. I placed it on the public side of the Boards hoping that it will show a positive light of Kemetic Orthodoxy for those that come her to learn. There seems to be a lot of "fluff" on the public side and thought that are guests and community would enjoy something a little more philosophical and spiritual. Looking forward to hearing from everyone.

Senebty,

Em hotep, Raheri - neat topic!

One of the big questions in KO is, what exactly is isfet?

To paraphrase Hemet, isfet is the action of undoing creation itself. We add to this by doing bits and pieces that can further the uncreation of creation; things like gereg, or lying (both in word and thought); and binet, or behaving badly (actions, not just words or thoughts).

Also according to Hemet, what really matters in these cases is whether or not we actually meant to do it. So, to purposefully lie, behave badly, or to not choose to act within ma'at, all contributes to isfet; accidentally doing so, does not.

Choosing to act within ma'at not only shows character; it shows *good* character. Kudos, Raheri!

Just to play the devil's advocate for a moment... wasn't Ap_p's creation accidental?

Is the definition of isfet dependent on the outcome or the intention? Is a malicious act truly isfet if it somehow leads to a positive outcome or the creation of something?

Em hotep Shemi & Tekini,

I basically see this as a way that ma'at is trying to correct itself. If a malicious act caused something positive, I don't see the slate as being wiped clean. That intent is still on the one making the act. Just because I did something malicious because I wanted to in anger, doesn’t mean if something good comes out of it, then I didn't do anything wrong.

On the other hand, what if I did something that eventually caused isfet. Kind of like the butterfly effect. I think this is really pushing it. Making isfet is something we aren’t going to do by accident. That is gereg, but not isfet.

Basically we are the only ones responsible for ourselves. What we do, say, and how we behave are our choices. For the most part, I believe that most of mankind isn’t out creating isfet.

Senebty,

Hotep Tek! Yes, Ap_p's creation was accidental - but Ap_p and isfet are two different things. It was Hemet Herself you said that intent is what matters with isfet - just do a search on isfet in the ATN forum, and you'll find it.

Yes, but many of the people reading this do not have access to the AtN forum. And I did say I was playing Devil's Advocate. Just was attempting to explore the bredth of the philosophy.

oops - sorry, I forgot about not having access to AtN unless you're at last a beginner... <blush>

And yep, you did say devil's advocate, and I did get that - just advocating back atch'ya

I understand that intent is the major factor here with isfet. If I sat down tonight and drew up a plan for a complete annihilation of ignorant co-workers (I'm projecting a little here) and began my plan, then I would thus be creating isfet in that sense. Little things we do over time can create isfet, such gereg and binet. But since most people don't go around making isfet, then how does this 1st Purification relate to me in that sense. I may add to the overall isfet pool by some of my more inappropriate actions I have done, but how do I not make isfet?

The only answer I see is by doing ma'at. I can do this by doing actions that lift myself, and those around me. I can restrain myself when someone says something that really grips my grits, and instead of whining about it, do something to make that person I don't like my friend. I think that is a lesson all of us can walk away with today. Not everybody is perfect, and it is our responsibility to raise each other up. We are a religious family here in this forum. Let's take the words from Jesus and love one another.

Tomorrow I will make an effort to educate people when they ask questions and congratulate them for searching for the right answers. No more passive-aggressive Raheri.

Senebty,

Hotep everyone!

Purification 2

Hail Hept-seshet, coming from Kher-aha, I do not steal (literally, "there is no stealing [in] me.")

To say that you do not steal has a variety of implications. Most of us can say we do not steal. That sort of "crime" is not within us. But by digging deeper into ourselves and our thoughts, we can see this action present. Plagiarism, misrepresentation, and (unknown to the cable company) free cable are all examples of theft. In fact writing about this purification, I have to be careful so that I don’t plagiarize the words of our Nisut (AUS).

Overall, when focusing on this purification, I see that there are things in this world that are inherently ours. Whether we bought them, had them given to us, or exchanged services for them, they are ours. When someone comes along with a total disregard for that, then chaos can result. What are your thoughts?

Senebty,

Em hotep!

I just found this thread, and I think it's a great one! I'm looking forward to discussing all of the Purifications because there are definitely some that confuse me a bit...



I think that your explanation of this pretty much sums up how I feel I *should* live to not do isfet... I say should because this one is a tough struggle for me. Both of my parents have terrible anger problems and stress out over the smallest things. As a result, my sister and I are pretty much the same. I find when I am away from my family I can focus more and think of Ma'at, but I live with my sister and sometimes I just lose my head. (I'm not saying my family is bad for me, it's just we are all so similar, and people with similar traits tend to crash more. I love my family! I don't know what I would do without them). So basically this has been a life-long struggle of mine... Since I have first looked into KO I felt like it would be easier. And I have noticed that sometimes it really does help to think of Ma'at and Netjer.



This one definitely is straightforward... Like you were saying, there are so many forms of "stealing." I feel like it is only stealing when it is done intentionally... obviously if you were to purposefully plagiarize Hemet(AUS) words then that would be stealing, but if you have read her words long ago, came to write this, and those words came to you yet you could not remember at all where you had heard them from, then I don't feel that is plagiarism. University's rules are different than mine though.. haha But that was just an example.

I feel like this is just one of those purifications that can't be interpreted that differently...

I don't have anything else to say about this, but I am looking forward to the other Purifications!

Senebty
Angela