12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Revelation of Modern and Ancient Mysticism, April 16, 2003
This review is from: Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way (Paperback)
Egyptian Mystics is Moustafa Gadallas tenth book in the thoroughly researched study of modern and ancient Egyptian society and culture. For those not aware, Moustafa is biased by neither Abrahamic religion nor Academic status, which in the study of ancient lands and its peoples puts him in the small minority, and as such his highlighting of the misdeeds these groups is laid clearly and factually with well documented research and common sense. There are those who consider his work controversial and Egyptian Mystics is not a book to placate history from an Abrahamized outlook, rather it is a document that shows a breathing culture who have maintained traditions, albeit surreptitiously, for thousands of years and more.
As with all of Moustafas books published through the Tehuti Research Foundation, Egyptian Mystics shows a consistency in its presentation; well-bound for a softcover, B5 of size, a detailed table of contents (broken into four parts with appendices), and an introductory preface, terminology, chronology of the Egyptian Dynasties and a map of Egypt. The text is clear and easy to read with consistent use of fonts to separate sources both indigenous and foreign beyond the textual body that is displayed in bite-sized paragraphs.
Part 1, The Hidden Treasure; this short, two chapter section begins by introducing the main points of the entire book showing the two paths of world spirituality, those following the dogmatic religions of a personal god and that of the mystics. Sufism is explained, its origin in Egypt and how it exists in its most widely followed path to date with clear facts that tie with the earlier introduction of mysticism. The concept of man and god is explored deeper with regard to union between the two as the essential and ongoing ingredient in the path of mysticism.
Part 2, Transformation from Dust to Gold; interpreted/inherited and used in hermetic and philosophical practices throughout the world. Alchemy is the first chapter and Moustafa explores the spiritual process of transformation of man in that journey of purification with fundamentals of Egyptian mysticism that have multi-layered meaning and representation, rather than just the sheer act alone; words as symbols are presented. Links along this journey are detailed with rich information on the aspirants need for a guide. The purification process is examined deeply with page after page of the journey to cleanse body and mind in preparation for further enlightenment; breathing, moral fundaments, movements, cleanliness, etc. Finally, mysticism is shown less a dogmatic cult following a communal god than a personal journey of understanding nature and of the role of the individual/microcosm to the macrocosm, the realized world and beyond, through knowledge acquired in spiritual revelation by way of being guided along this path of purification. The Egyptian principles of Ka and Ba and their interrelation are examined specifically with their union or marriage of dualities into the whole. Those that have undergone this process are revered in shrines by the Egyptians with a clear spiritual backbone that is not just superstition but a process of deep and tacit understanding.
Part 3, The Public Visitation Fairs; in this part a vibrant and florescent social culture is exampled following the fundaments of spirituality through tradition. The concept of nature as being cyclical, whether by seasons or the shift of planets is a given but this is nowhere more celebrated by the Egyptians who still continue rituals to remember the roles and that of humankind in the cycle. Mouleds, the annual festivals of renewal, are described in detail, not just the dates, locations, and practices but also of the ritualistic symbolism inherent. Lent, Easter, and other inherited traditions by the Abrahamic religions are shown in their full and continued force from their origin in Egypt, with strong meaning underpinning the dates central to their whole tradition of renewal. Beyond symbolism the structure of the Mouleds is explained in day by day process, from the visitation of families to shrines to offerings of food. These traditions are not just purported in the modern sense but are accompanied by depictions of scenes taken from ancient Egyptian buildings.
Part 4, Come One Come All; explores the mystical fellowships and their structure both in the material and spiritual senses. Moustafa breaks down organization, ethics, spiritual beliefs, roles in society for the reader leaving no room for a secretive or cabalistic personification of a group locked steadfast to their silence and elitism, pointing out the equality of man and women therein. The analogy of Auset (Isis) is explored from its representation in the story of her and Ausar (Osiris) as an ideal model of the philosophical tradition, using aphorisms and examples that show the path one must take if one seeks a path of enlightenment and as example of general conduct of any moral and honest being.
The Appendices, a fairly new addition to several of Moustafas latest books consists of nearly another entire part of information covering; Miscellaneous Sufi Terms and their Ancient Egyptian Roots (fundamental symbolism of the Ancient Egyptians is explained with example of Sufism today), Sleeping with the Enemy (surviving Islam), Zikr: The Ecstatic Practise (a lengthy dissertation on the ritual of Zikr and its process in the path of seeking enlightenment), Reaching the Hearts and Minds (of how fiction is the best model for explaining models of behaviour), The Egyptians vs. The Latin Calender (an important examination of the Julian/Georgian systems developed from the Sothic year employed by the Ancient Egyptians).
Finally a Glossary of Egyptian terms with concise paragraphed explanations precedes the Selected Bibliography, Sources and Notes, and an exhaustive and excellent Index.
This book brings together much of Moustafas earlier books into a culture still employing symbolism and spirituality long thought dead or not at all. The book does not seek to gloat or to show an exact way of seeking a mystical way, but challenges the reader to examine his or her own standing in the world spiritually and personally; a book to be read many times and its learning employed.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original, thought-provoking, and thoroughly reader friendly, April 16, 2003
This review is from: Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way (Paperback)
Egyptian Mystics: Seekers Of The Way is an impressive and groundbreaking contribution to an enlightened and enlightening study of the Egyptian contributions to Sufism and Alchemy in the ancient world. Iconoclastic Egyptologist Moustafa Gadalla provides an informed and informative examination and correlation between the Ancient Egyptian calendar of events and the cycles of the universe -- including the Egyptian contributions to the Christian calendar in terms of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and more. Egyptian Mystics is an original, thought-provoking, and thoroughly "reader friendly" study which is enthusiastically recommended for students of Sufism, Egyptology, and metaphysics.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beware, April 7, 2007
This review is from: Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way (Paperback)
This book provides very good information as to the Baladi Egyptian Sufi practices. Moustafa Gadalla does not waste words and gives the information very clearly; this makes the book very easy and enjoyable to read. Moustafa states that Sufism did not originate from Islam or from Persia, but was preceded by Egypt, more specifically by the Baladi Egyptians. The author also states that "The Egyptian mystical (Sufism) teachings and practices are markedly different than those of Sufis in other Countries." pg120. The author makes it abundantly clear that the Sufism of Egypt is a matter of "sleeping with the enemy" I.e. Islam (See Appendices B "Sleeping with the enemy - Surviving Islam) pg145-148. This tolerance is a matter of survival from fear of persecution and death from Islamists and the Islamic government.
I was happy to see from the section entitled `The Ego - Personal Enemy #1' that the author states "Controlling the ego was/is one of the most important ethical requirements in the Egyptian model of mysticism"," To reunite with the divine, we must be ego-free" pg 43. Sadly there is only an exoteric methodology of righteous living as a remedy given here. Still, on a positive note this is achieved with the help of the laws of Maat; once again reinforcing this as a necessity for liberation I.e. right conduct. I loved the information regarding the Egyptian Deities I.e. Isis, Osiris, Tefnu and Shu etc. Reading about these deities helped reinforce the information that I already got from reading Gerald Massey's `Ancient Egypt' (Highly recommended).
I fully accept the author's position that Christianity, Islam and Judaism swiped a whole bunch of stuff from the spirituality of Egypt. I don't accept the position of the author that there is no proof as to Jesus Christ having walked this planet. I do however accept that the Catholic Church massaged its dates to fit ancient spirituality.
On the flip side of things, this book was not what I expected. I was hoping for greater mystical practices from this book, mystical practices of an authentic, perhaps different, but nonetheless safe nature. A good portion of this book was devoted to the subject of the Baladi festivals called Mouleds. According to the author, somewhere in Egypt you will always find one of these festivals occurring. This can even incorporate over a million people. Personally, I question where mysticism ends and religion begins with such numbers. The Central practice of the Baladi mystics is the `Ecstatic' practice of the `Zikr' or 'Dhikr'. This is also the central ritual of the Mouleds. Zikr is practiced once or twice a week in Baladi fellowships. The Zikr is essentially performed by concentrating on the guide/leader (who is absent from the room). "The seeker forgets his existence" and "allows himself to pass away (be absorbed) into the guide/leader." This is done to rhythmic music and dancing towards ecstasy. "In order for the aspirants of a fellowship to gain knowledge through spiritual revelation, one or more members of the fellowship must be a spiritual medium who can communicate and connect, through the chain of past spiritual guides to a Pir/Mir/Wali-who is commonly known as the founder of a fellowship" pg 121 The author describes this lineage in terms of a chain or pipe. As described, this chain consists of people living and dead. Personally, I've always had a revulsion of anything that would attempt to gain control over me, this also includes addictions. Obviously the Zikr rang warning bells for me. I did a simple Google search incorporating the word Zikr and demon possession. I'm aware that this has obvious Christian connotations, but the facts reported bare evidence that this is not something that I'd have anything to do with or recommend, in fact, the devastations arising from this sort of thing would have me urge all those even considering witnessing such an event as a Zikr to flee in the opposite direction. See `The influence of animism on Islam, chapter 12, The Zar: Exorcism of demons by Samuel M. Zwemer, F.R.G.S
I accept without question that the Egyptians once had a great spirituality; a spirituality encompassing deep esoteric teachings, the training of initiates and of providing a path towards liberation. I've heard it said that a great spiritual temple still resides in Egypt in a different dimension. Sadly, as was the case with other great society's that also attained great spirituality, Egyptian spirituality fell into decay. I believe that this present book has a semblance of greatness of this past Egyptian spirituality, but that this particular form of Egyptian Sufi mysticism (I.e. Baladi) now lies in distortion.
Recommendations: I enjoyed reading `Sacred Sexuality-Ancient Egyptian Tantric Yoga' by Muata Ashby and have four of his other books, of which I am eager to read and further assess. I would welcome any recommendations towards an authentic Egyptian esoteric spirituality, especially to the depth of Samael Aun Weor; I would appreciate this added as a comment.
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