A good starting point

I am actually rating this book at 3.5 stars. The author obviously spent a great deal of time and effort researching the material presented. Also it seems that a lot of thought and care went into synthesizing a relationship between seemingly disparate world traditions. It provides a summary of many of the world's great religious and spiritual traditions. This book serves as a springboard into more indepth study of spiritual practice and as a general reference. It provides a wide spectrum of topics and plenty of material for speculation and introspection. The authors seem to have a vision of providing aspiring seekers of knowledge a firm grasp on the truths that underly all spiritual and religious tradition.

There were a few things that bothered me about this book. First, the layout of the book makes reading problematic. Many of the sections of the book have multiple fonts, formats, and sizes that begin to confuse the eye. Also, the book would have greatly benefited from a more consistent style to the artwork. While it is important to try and preserve the original style and look of the art, there is no crime in letting a talented artist reinterpret the picture to add continuity to the images. Many of he sections looked like the product of an old word processing program.

My second concern is the scope. While this book may be the first volume of author's magnum opus (he has written many other books), his work might benefit from a bit more stylistic focus. A great many authors, especially in the realm of African centered work, tend produce sweeping books that are intended to be compendiums on their intended topics. The authors in this genre try to follow in the footstpes of greats like John Henrik Clarke, St. Claire Drake, and Ivan Van Sertima. The aforementioned veteran authors all benefit from years of academic experience which hones their writing and presentations skills.

My problems with Egyptian Yoga Vol.1 could be solved in a three steps. One, allow a talented and open minded artist reinterpret the art to give a coherent and consistent visual perspective. Two, allow someone with desktop publishing experience to thoroughly format the text and layout to provide a more pleasing reading experience. Three, the experienced eye of an editor could make the prose and ideas presented more accessible and focused.

I give Egyptian Yoga 3.5 stars because it shows a great deal of promise and exposes readers to the beginnings of a many spirituals truths and philosophies. Taken for what it is (an expansive coverage and summary of a huge body of knowledge), it is a good initial effort. The three ideas mentioned above could turn this book from a good effort into a superior one.

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Must Read

This book is definately one of the best additions to my library. Dr. Ashby gives a great analysis of the most complex knowledge system known to humankind. Not only does he know what he is talking about, but he is able to transform the wisdom of the ancients into the limited framework of the English language. Very powerful. If one is seeking enlightenment, this book definately provides a step in the right direction.

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RESEARCHES BIRTHPLACE OF "ALL" ESOTERIC DOCTRINES

This book is a classic in a multiplicity of fields; incl.,Kemetic (Egyptian) research, Melanin studies, Yoga techniques,Symbology, Comparative Religions, Esoteric materialism (scientifictechnology behind machinery), and others to numerous to mention.Dr. Muata Ashby is a first rate academician and he is a Masterpractitioner of the Art to boot! This is the most cosmopolitan workyou can find on esoteric/occultic syncretism. Every page is loadedwith diagrams, or sublime research on the esoteric connection aroundthe world of the African Diaspora. Take for example page 8:""THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE- As stated in the ancient Egyptiantext, 'The Book of Coming Forth by Day ', the eternal soul comes to earthto learn certain lessons and to become purified . In the process of evolution, virtues as well as vices areexperienced by us based on our own 'mental disposition.... When thespirit , our innermost self, is ready to make the final'journey home', back to its source, GOD, it begins to inquire aboutthe nature of its existence and thereby causes pressure on the mind,namely the ego-personality. Our BA , our individualGOD consciousness, begins to apply subtle pressure on our wakingconsciousness in the form of subtle suggestions. We begin to recognizethe wisdom of ancient scriptures and develop an interest in books suchas this one. Becoming in tune with the pressure of the spirit withinis allowing ourselves to be guided by our intuition and the letting goof ideas and thoughts which we know to be untrue or fruitless. Mentalpurification requires the utmost patience with ourselves. Interest inthe world as an Absolute reality (the notion there is nothing elsebeyond 'this' physical reality) is left behind gradually and newpsychological impressions and experiences are introduced until webecome established in this 'other' reality. At this point, we wake upfrom the consciousness we have been used to as if waking up from adream this is attaining 'Horushood', 'Christhood', or becoming'Buddha' or 'Krishna'. THAT WHICH IS THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH, THESUBSTANTIAL REALITY, IS BEYOUND TRUE NAMING, BUT THE WISE CALL IT THEALL Egyptian Proverb"" Actually the Masculine side of theGodhead (The Father in Christendom) is called the ALL, by theinitiates, the mundane call it Allah. And the Feminine side of theGodhead (Holy Spirit in Christendom) is called the ALL IN ALL {She isthat which is beyond the Masculine side according to the"KA.BA.ALLAH" (this is where Mohammed, a black Arab initiateof the Damascus Lodge; a branch of the Egyptian Spiritual sytem's maintemple at Luxor, got the word/idea for his God from), purposely hiddenin this book's name is the word A.L.L.A.H.; Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm,Head. So we have in this Egyptian, (not Jewish like they would haveyou think), artifact - the component structure of man, whom is thephysical incarnation of God/GODESS) & the Feminine side gave riseto the Masculine, this is why She is called the All IN ALL}; by theinitiates, and Allet by the mundane (even though you hardly ever hearabout Her)... Yes, i am scholarly enough to be able to correct DrAshby in this area! The wonderful quote above is so good that thecompany that i work for took it and condensed it into a marketingmotto. Many off the members of KC Board of Trade that i introduce tothis gem, go out a by it for themselves immediately. They come backamazed at how much research quality information is contained in only209, 8.5" x 11", pages. The foreword alone is worth theprice of the entire book. It reads: ""The literal meaning ofthe word YOGA is to 'YOKE' or to 'LINK' back. The implication is: tolink back to the original source, the original essence, that whichtranscends all mental and intellectual attempts at comprehension, butwhich is the essential nature of everything in CREATION. The Scienceof Yoga constitutes the teachings required to achieve perfection whichis the original essence of every human spirit. Nature herself offersone path to perfection. The path of learning through mistakes andsuffering, the process of trial and error....Through self discipline,the path of Yoga offers a 'short cut' to ending the pains of humanexistence...by achieving self-mastery and self-realization, therealization of one's true nature: GOD. The process is to become aHorus, a Christ, and Enlightened Being, while still alive. To attainthis level of being, we must first control the forces of our own lowernature. In essence, we must learn how to give up our egotisticalideas and allow them to dissolve so that we may discover our deepestself, who is nameless,, bodiless, immortal and eternal....""Wow is there anything else that needs to be said, i think not. But iwill say that if being a TRUTH seeker is what you are then this is theplace, and the time is now for you to make a commitment (envoke asolemn oath to yourSelf) to right now "discover a far awaycountry". There's no place further than.... "(inner)SPACE thefinal frontier! These are the voyages of the stel'ar ship,Enterprise. It's mission, to seek out L.I.F.E. (L.iberty, I.ntegrity,F.ocus, E.volution- the fourfold path of self-discipline hidden inJesus' saying: "I am the Way, the Truth, the L.I.F.E., any thatcome to me shallhave life everlasting".), to search for meaning, to boldly gowhere others have gone on before .... Djhuiti M. AmenRa, CEO/Chairman of Board: TheA.C.M.E. Corporation, Inc....

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